Meeting Marion van Dijck at the Sarakasi Dome

Africa Web TV revisited the Sarakasi Dome in Ngara to meet with its co-founder Marion van Dijck. Some might recall that we went there last year, 2013 to do an item. It was one of the highlights of our stay then. We spoke then with Edu who is the creative director of Sarakasi. We also spoke with some of the dancers and acrobats there and found their stories extremely inspirational. We made a short video report which you can see here under.

The one person that was missing in the storyline was Marion, who is the co-founder and Managing Director of the Sarakasi Trust. She was on vacation to her native country, Holland at the time Africa Web TV. So it was a no-brainer that we were going to revisit Sarakasi this time around.

Speaking with Marion one cannot help but see the passion, the drive and the commitment that has made the Sarakasi project a very successful one in Kenya and beyond. We are not going to go into the details of the whole conversation now (you’ll be able to see and judge for yourself when our video report comes out). But it is necessary to point out that we were clinging to every word she was saying. Her eyes lit up when she recalled the beginnings of Sarakasi.

From those humble, if almost accidental beginnings, one could see how far they have come. It is hard to imagine that a chance meeting about 12 years ago has resulted in one of the most recognisable, active, dynamic and creative youth organisations in Kenya. It is not only a charitable organisation. It is an organisation that empowers, educates and develops the youths of Kenya.

Many kids who would otherwise have had no chance in life have passed through Sarakasi and are now fully fledged, successful members of the society managing their own futures using talents and skills they have learnt at the Sarakasi Dome. What’s more, many of these guys are giving back by helping to build and empower the new generation of talented youths of Kenya. It is the classic example of teaching people to fish instead of giving them fish.

Africa Web TV does not want to appear like we are the praise singers of the Sarakasi projects but it is our job to highlight that which serves to build up societies and families of Africa in both the short and the long term. Sarakasi is an example of how one or two people with a good heart and dedication can really change the world for the better. Read more about Sarakasi on sarakasi.org and watch out for our interview with Marion van Dijck in the coming weeks.