Shangilia Mtoto wa Afrika (Rejoice Child of Africa)

According to the organisers, the organisation’s performances are designed to both empower the young performers and sensitise society to the rising predicament of “young lives lost on the street, sniffing glue, picking pockets, and exposed to prostitution.” They state that besides raising funds for the children’s care, performances prove that the performing arts are effective in building children's self-confidence and worth, as well as demonstrating the potential of all children.

Shangilia has been touring and performing not only in Africa but also abroad. In 2008 Shangilia toured the united States where they were given the opportunity to record an album with the New York based Micocci Productions. Their album, titled Rejoice Child of Africa, with 10 tracks is a mix of genres, celebrating gospel and secular music. Lyrically it charts the children's evolution of optimism and realism. During the tour, the children also had the opportunity to share the stage with some famous names in the world of music including South African jazz and pop trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Together they performed in a weeklong six-city Songs of the Spirit tour in New York State in concerts promoting peace and unity.

Children.

According to the organisation, street children remain amongst the most highly marginalised and vulnerable human beings in Kenya, and there are up to 500 000 Kenyan street children. They are found on the streets of every city and town in Kenya. The organisation reports that they are largely driven out of their homes by poverty, destitution, and the breakdown of the family and other social welfare structures. The children have no access to shelter, education, health care, or protection. Even the youngest, of both sexes, are often sexually abused and exploited, traumatised and suffer from mental challenges. Furthermore, substance abuse is almost universal with the most common being glue, which, when used over a sustained period, results in permanent brain damage. The organisation states that street children who are rounded up by police and taken to social halls often resort to petty theft, begging, and various other means to find their daily bread.

Shangilia Mtoto wa Afrika was founded as a result of a Kenyan Film titled "USILIE MTOTO WA AFRICA" written and directed by award winning Kenyan Film maker Anne Mungai and funded by UNICEF New York in 1993.

Prompted in part by a donation of six acres of land from the German organsisation, Cap Anamur and a commitment to expand services to other children still on the streets, Shangilia plans to:

• expand the number of resident children;
• open more services to transient homeless children, notably a drop-in health centre;
• expand the educational curriculum and the quality of teachers;
• expand the career preparation and support for older children;
• expand the performing arts programme; and
• continue assisting underprivileged children with a resident training programme for the performing arts.