After the last bowl of githeri went out, the ETCO room shifted from the smell of stew to the scrape of crayons on paper. Someone opened the windows. Outside, Kibera kept its Saturday rhythm — a cart wheel squeaking, a woman calling for empty bottles.
We had planned a drawing and painting session for children who lean toward art — not as a luxury, but as a way to see who might grow with a little structure and encouragement. Pencils moved slowly at first, then faster, as confidence arrived in small, stubborn lines.
The point was simple: notice talent early. A few children held their pages up without being asked. Others covered mistakes with thick colour until the paper buckled — still honest work. We took names quietly, the way you do when you do not want to promise what you cannot keep, but you also refuse to look away.
What comes next
Children who show steady interest may be enrolled in dedicated drawing and painting classes as we grow the programme. Spaces and materials are never unlimited in Kibera; we move week by week. A cousin leaned over a younger sister’s shoulder, showing her how to mix blue into black without losing the sky. That kind of peer teaching is what we hope to protect with more structured classes.
If you want to sponsor sketchbooks, paint, or a tutor session, reach out through etco-kenya.org and mention the art track — we will tell you exactly what we need this month.
