Happy New Year
On the first morning of 2024, while the city nursed its New Year’s headaches, we chose a different kind of celebration: smoke from the kitchen, songs we didn’t plan, and a queue of children who arrived like confetti.
We kicked off the children’s feeding programme for the year with full plates and full hearts. Youth drifted in to help serve. Elderly neighbours settled on plastic chairs, swapping stories while the smallest ones ate with both hands.
Someone’s grandmother prayed quietly before she ate — not performative, just grateful. A boy tried to keep his new shirt clean and failed immediately. The year began with sauce on sleeves, which feels honest.
It is a strange, sweet way to begin a calendar — not with speeches, but with spoons. We are carrying that same spirit forward: show up, feed honestly, stay kind.
If your January is full of budgets and school fees, know that many families here are doing the same maths with smaller margins. A strong start matters — for bodies, and for hope.
If you welcomed 2024 with resolutions, consider one that tastes like ugali and generosity. Support ETCO’s Saturday meals or walk beside us as a volunteer; we would love to share the work with you.
New Year’s Day is easy to photograph; the rest of the year is harder. We are choosing the harder part — showing up again next week, and the week after.
Thank you to everyone who shared the day — children, youth, elders — and to those who gave quietly so the sufuria could be full before the sun climbed high.
From Participation to Agency: ETCO at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab
Last week, ETCO represented Kibra at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab in Nairobi — where the real question wasn't youth participation, but youth agency. Here's what that means for our nine programmes, and an honest look at what it takes to build sustainably as a volunteer-run organisation.
Creating Impact, Building a Better Tomorrow
At ETCO, we're committed to creating lasting positive impact by keeping our environment safe and clean while creating meaningful employment opportunities for our communities. Through innovation and strategic partnerships with like-minded stakeholders, we're working together to achieve shared goals that drive sustainable development. We're also conducting a comprehensive economic survey to better understand the project's returns, impact, and scalability—ensuring every step we take is informed, effective, and built for long-term success.
Planning Meeting with PSN - Waste Management Project
Today's ETCO had logistical planning meeting at PSN Office to discuss the upcoming waste management project... Good things take time.