Mathare is a community space in Kenya, home to approximately 800,000 people and Nairobi’s oldest slum. The Mathare Environmental Centre was established by Mathare Environmental Conservation Youth Group (MECYG) with support from UN-Habitat, the Government of Norway, and Samsung C&T. MECYG provides a safe and generative space for young men and women of the community. The Centre features an the Innovate Kenya centre which trains young men and women in technology and business, a feeding programme for at risk youth, and a football programme both young men and women.

Build capacity among youth in the community

Support active youth participation in decisions affecting governmance

Strengthen climate action and improved slum environment

Effective urban crises prevention and response

Youth lead the way in preventing COVID-19 spread in Kenya’s informal settlements
Nairobi, 12 May 2020 – Young people in Kenya’s informal settlements, cities and towns are the driving force behind preventative

Opinion: Slums are the next front line in the fight against the coronavirus
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African Youth Hard at Work Reducing the Spread of COVID-19
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Over 135,000 handwashes at UN-Habitat-supported facilities in Nairobi’s informal settlements
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YOUTH DRIVING ACTION AGAINST THE PANDEMIC IN NAIROBI’S MATHARE SLUM
The COVID-19 pandemic is significantly affecting the world’s most vulnerable groups, including the one billion people living in informal settlements

Youth-led organizations in Kenya respond to the Government’s call to fight COVID-19
“I want to make a special appeal to the youth of our nation. The youth are the biggest component of
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