Mathare North (a MYSA centre)

Members of dance group, Mathare North

Mathare North is an area that is well-known for criminal activity, but the library itself has proven a safe haven, even through the post-election violence in early 2008, which was particularly bad in this area. Like Eastleigh, the Mathare North library is run by the Mathare Youth Sports Association, a locally-led organization with the respect of the community.

During the violence, large sections of Mathare Valley were burned down, and there were many shooting deaths. Both library staff members, Stephen and Charles, were burned out of their homes and lived for some weeks in the library itself! These two young men -- one Kikuyu, one Luo -- have been best friends since the age of 12. Together, as leaders of the library, they went into the valley to talk peace and urge neighbors to stop harming each other.

The library is sponsored by Sara Lee, who not only pay the rent on the library building, but also pay for the electricity and refurbishment of the library. More recently they have begun paying salaries for Charles and Stephen, who worked for two years without any pay at all! Sara Lee is also paying for another staff member to attend Kenya School of Professional Studies to study for a diploma and certificate in library and information skills.

The library unofficially opened in November 2003. Then in February 2004 it was officially opened by children's author Beverly Naidoo, our patron. The library was at first only one room for children. Soon the adults decided they also needed a library, so the MYSA office next door was converted into an adults library.

Mathare North is an active library, with drama, drumming, dance, rap, creative writing and other programs ongoing.