A young girl from the Quarry community helps with the evacuation.

On Thursday September 3rd, 2009 residents (over 10,000) of the Quarry community in Nairobi were forced to abandon their homes because of demolition and the threat of fire.

Quarry Community Evictions – Pictures of the evictions and evacuation

The 1010 Project’s community partner, Fair Oaks School & Redeemed Gospel Church, provided this email report:

They [vigilant group of young men who have been hired by private developer] released terror on the people and threatened to set a blaze the slum which has over 10,000 people and 3000 houses made of iron sheets including the church. The eviction and demolition came in at a time least expected because the notice given by the land owner was too short to allow anybody plan for the next move.  This is the most heart breaking and the most unfortunate thing that has ever happened to me and the church here at Quarry.  I am watching the walls and the roofs of the church go down and there is nothing much I can do because the owners of the premises have already sold out the property and they have demolished to build up their estates and other personal properties.  Our negotiations with the land owner were unfruitful even after lengthy consultations.

Hundreds of people living in this slum have been affected by the eviction for two nights now most of them have been spending nights in the cold. The church and the school have been affected. For two days running the school is closed and the church activities have been suspended.

Furthermore, Redeemed has been providing vocational training (compute skills, embroidery, tailoring) to young adults in the communities.  These critical services have been temporarily suspended as a result of the demolition.

The 1010 Project is working with Northside Christian Church to raise financial support for the reconstruction and rebuilding efforts.  If you would like to support this vibrant community and important project, please include in the special instructions section or memo line of your donation – “Redeemed Reconstruction”.

I remember when I learned that a mouse wasn’t a rodent, a keyboard didn’t have black and white keys, and a monitor wasn’t someone making sure I got to class on time. It was 5th grade, I was 10 years old, and it was the beginning of a love affair.

The start of a love affair

My suburban school in wooded Kent, WA got a room full of Macintosh Plus computers. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. I spent hours with MacPaint illustrating stories and creating my own little works of art. Computers progressed, technology became more integrated into education, and in high school I created my first powerpoint presentation. While others created a basic (and probably easier to read) presentation, I created intricate graphics and complex transitions.

After college, I started my own company creating websites for non-profits and companies around the world. My love for computers opened up doors for me to meet CEO’s in the upper floors of skyscrapers, Executive Directors serving thousands of constituents, and to provide for my family. All these opportunities started when I was given the opportunity to learn the tools of what has become the new global economy: a mouse, a keyboard, and a monitor.

Waiting for that chance

There are 307 students in Nairobi who are waiting to see if they will get that same chance. They have never been on the internet, in fact they’ve never even used a computer. We have teamed with Candlelight School to provide primary school students with essential computer skills that will empower their educational and vocational future.

We only have until September 18th to raise $4000 from 50 or more donors. This will not only provide a pivotal opportunity for these children, it will also give The 1010 Project a permanent spot on Global Giving which will greatly broaden our reach.

Consider making a small gift that can open big doors of opportunity:
$10 – Purchases one mouse for a student accessing the internet for the first time
$30 – Covers the cost of a keyboard that hundreds of students will learn computer skills on
$50 – Provides computer servicing and maintenance for the entire lab for one month

Click here to use your mouse, keyboard, and monitor to change a life today.