Imaginations spoken loudly
Art begins where speech gets tired — in the swipe of charcoal, the arc of a dancer’s arm, the tremble of a first note held in the throat.
In Kibera, colour competes with dust — paint on plywood, kitenge in the market, a child’s drawing taped where a window should be. ETCO Art Centre asks a simple question: what if that colour could also pay rent?
Saturday mornings smell of turpentine and ambition. A teenager leans over a sketch, tongue out like the day exams stopped mattering for an hour. Another learns to price a portrait at KSh that respect both the buyer and the hour lost to practice.
At ETCO Art Centre, we make room for imaginations from informal settlements that are too often asked to stay quiet. This is not only about beauty, though beauty matters; it is about livelihood.
A skilled hand can sell a portrait, tailor a costume, teach a class — if the training is honest and the market is introduced. We want children to see the industry behind the frame: deadlines, clients, pricing in KSh, the small business of being creative.
Teaching the long view
Our aim is to reach as many young people as we can — not to polish them for a single concert, but to open doors that stay open. If you are an artist who remembers starting with borrowed supplies, consider mentoring a Saturday class. If you can donate materials, you will meet gratitude that shows up in pencil shavings and swept floors.
Canvases, brushes, data bundles for online portfolios — the shopping list is ordinary. The outcome is not: a young person who can sign a receipt and mean it.
Ngong River Regeneration Network - Zone (1-6)
The Ngong River Regeneration Network Zone Coordinators (Zones 1–6) held a productive meeting with the Commissioners representing the Ngong River, chaired by Commissioner Benjamin Langwen, alongside Commissioners John Kioli and Dr. Loice Jepkemboi Kipkiror, together with Inspector Ashford - NRC Secretariat. The meeting was highly engaging and inspiring, leaving us even more energized and committed to advancing the river restoration agenda. Together, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to not only regenerating our rivers, but also promoting a cleaner environment, encouraging food production through downstream farming, and creating sustainable job opportunities through riverine activities. #NgongRiverRestoration #NairobiRivers #EnvironmentalConservation #RiverRegeneration #ClimateAction #CommunityEmpowerment #GreenJobs
World Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebration
In celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day, ETCO, in partnership with Rotary Club of Nairobi Connect and with support from the Safaricom Foundation, today donated 900 sanitary towels to girls at Joash Olum Primary School. This initiative was aimed at supporting the girl child by promoting menstrual dignity, boosting confidence, and helping keep girls in school so they can stay focused on their education and future careers.
Kikuyu Rotary Club Team site visit - partnership
It was a pleasure hosting the Nairobi Rotary Club Connect’s Yumbya Nyamai, who also represented Ecologists Without Borders (EcoWB), alongside the Kikuyu Rotary Club Presidents—past, current, and incoming—George Ngotho, Patrick, and Marion respectively. We truly appreciated your visit to the site and your interest in the upcoming waste management project.