Building Peace. Empowering Voices. Changing Narratives.
Jenga Lives Community-Based Organization is a grassroots movement transforming lives in Nairobi’s informal settlements through peacebuilding, advocacy, youth empowerment, media storytelling, and community resilience programs.
From championing gender equality to nurturing child leaders, training peace ambassadors, and amplifying underrepresented stories — we are creating safe, inclusive spaces where communities thrive and individuals realize their full potential.
Join us in shaping a future where peace isn’t just a dream, but a lived reality.
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Our Story
Nestled in the heart of Nairobi’s informal settlements, our organization was born from the simple, powerful idea that peace is not a privilege for the few — it’s a right for all. For years, our communities have faced harsh realities: cycles of violence, gender inequality, unemployment, crime, substance abuse, and societal neglect.
But from the same streets came a collective of dreamers, doers, and changemakers who refused to accept despair as our destiny. We gathered around stories, meals, radios, and playgrounds. We mentored boys to become peace champions, created safe spaces for children to just be children, opened microphones for local voices, and rallied volunteers to lead their neighborhoods towards lasting change.
What We Believe
We believe in the power of community-led solutions. In informal settlements where inequalities run deep, we recognize that those closest to the challenges hold the most authentic answers. Our work is driven by faith in the human spirit, guided by the values of unity, dignity, dialogue, and resilience.
We trust in creativity as a tool for peace. In honest conversations around shared meals. In children’s laughter as the first notes of harmony. And in amplifying local stories to shatter stereotypes and rewrite narratives of possibility. Our heartbeat is simple: empower communities, nurture peace, champion justice, and leave no one behind.
Why We Exist
Too often, informal settlements are reduced to headlines of crime, poverty, and despair. Yet beneath the hardship lies a reservoir of talent, strength, and unbreakable will.
We exist to nurture that untapped potential.
To create platforms where marginalized voices are not only heard but celebrated.
To reimagine what safe, inclusive communities look like when led by their own youth and women.
And to replace hopelessness with peace, opportunity, and collective dignity.
Our work isn’t just about responding to problems — it’s about proactively building the kind of communities we wish our children would inherit.
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Our Theory of Change
At Jenga Lives CBO, we believe that lasting peace and social transformation begin when communities are empowered with knowledge, safe spaces, and platforms to tell their own stories. Our Theory of Change is built on a simple, powerful idea: when people — especially children and youth — are equipped with the skills, voice, and opportunities to resolve conflicts nonviolently, challenge harmful norms, and advocate for their rights, entire communities become safer, stronger, and more hopeful.
Through dynamic programs in media, peacebuilding, gender justice, and youth leadership, we nurture champions of peace from within. By investing in volunteers, amplifying unheard voices, and creating inclusive dialogues, we move from silence to action, from stigma to solidarity.
We don’t just imagine a better Majengo — we build it, together.
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- Our Core Values
- Peace First
- Equity & Social Justice
- Youth-Led Solutions
- Community-Centered Action
- Storytelling for Change
- Non-Violence & Dialogue
- Integrity & Accountability
SDGs We Work Towards
No. |
Our SDG Commitment |
|---|---|
SDG 1 |
No Poverty |
SDG 3 |
Good Health & Well-being |
|---|---|
SDG 4 |
Quality Education |
SDG 5 |
Gender Equality |
|---|---|
SDG 10 |
Reduced Inequalities |
SDG 11 |
Sustainable Cities & Communities |
|---|---|
SDG 16 |
Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions |
SDG 11 |
Sustainable Cities & Communities |
|---|---|
SDG 16 |
Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions |
SDG 17 |
Partnerships for the Goals |
|---|---|
Rashid Musa
Beneficiary Kijee Media
I dropped out of school when I was 14 and got caught up in crime to survive. I thought my story was written. Then I found Kijee Media. They didn’t ask for certificates, only passion. Through their film and media training, I learned how to script, shoot, and edit. Today, I work on short films and community documentaries — and I’ve left crime behind. I now tell stories that build, not break. Kijee Media gave me a future I didn’t think was possible.”
Mama Denzel
Beneficiary Plates against Silence
For years, I kept quiet about the violence I was going through. I never had a safe space to speak or even understand it wasn’t my fault. When I joined Plates Against Silence, it was the first time I shared my story. The support, the referrals — it changed everything. Through connections I made there, I secured a job, moved out, and started afresh. I am no longer a victim. I’m financially independent and helping other girls find their voice too.”
Ibra
Beneficiary Men Who Choose Peace
“Growing up, I believed that being a man meant using your fists and never showing emotion. Men Who Choose Peace challenged everything I thought I knew. Every Friday, we talk openly about conflict, masculinity, and peace. It’s transformed my home, my friendships, and even my relationship with my son. Now, I mentor other young men to choose peace over violence. I’m proud to be part of something bigger than myself.”
Talk To Us Today
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Men Who Choose Peace — Every Friday Forum
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Nairobi, Majengo
Not every man chooses the easy way. Men Who Choose Peace is a space for men and boys to redefine masculinity, address conflict resolution, and become ambassadors for peace in their homes and communities. These candid, brotherly conversations are rewriting narratives, one Friday at a time.
Peace is Fun — Safe Spaces for Children
- 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Nairobi, Majengo
Childhood should be filled with joy, laughter, and endless possibility. Peace is Fun creates safe, playful environments where children learn about peace, leadership, and empathy through games, storytelling, and fun workshops. Be part of nurturing the next generation of peacemakers.
Mr. Daniel Shirima
Founder & Director Jenga Lives CBO
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