50x15 Launches Nairobi Community Center at Mukuru Kwa Njenga

NAIROBI COMMUNITY CENTER BRIDGES DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR MUKURU KWA NJENGA CHILDREN
50x15 Foundation and Architecture for Humanity enable SIDAREC to empower youth, improve lives with technology access

NAIROBI, Kenya ‐‐ June 16, 2009 ‐‐ Thousands of Nairobi children will cross the digital divide and access a global network of opportunity at the SIDAREC‐Mukuru Kwa Njenga Center, launched today with a community gate‐painting and ground‐breaking celebration in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga settlement. The community center was custom‐designed for Slums Information Development Resource Center (SIDAREC) and the needs of Nairobi youth, including access to the Internet, computer and technology training, health clinic services, early childhood development programs, and a community theater.

The community center is a cooperative project by the 50x15 Foundation and Architecture for Humanity to enable local youth to participate in and benefit from the Internet’s global network of commercial and education opportunity. SIDAREC, the project’s community partner, is a Nairobi youth development organization whose mission is to help community members access greater economic and social opportunities.

“The Nairobi community center will enable young people and their families to participate in and benefit from the life services ‐‐ healthcare information, financial services, job hunting, education and communication ‐‐ accessible by the Internet,” said Dan Shine, president of the 50x15 Foundation, which intends to enable affordable Internet access and computing capability to 50 percent of world’s population by 2015. “This project creates a path to individual and community empowerment in Nairobi. It is at the heart of our commitment to train and connect communities throughout Africa.”

The Nairobi project is a community effort itself. While 50x15 provides the construction financing and expertise in establishing sustainable technology centers, Architecture for Humanity manages the design and construction process and hosted the 2007 AMD Open Architecture Challenge where both the community partner, SIDAREC, and community center architectural design were awarded. SIDAREC submitted the winning community project proposal and The Global Studio of Seattle, Wash., U.S.A, developed the chosen design in partnership with Planning Systems of Nairobi.

“The SIDAREC community center’s design expresses the community’s own vision for itself. The design team worked closely with local youth and leaders to identify needs and goals. That community design process developed the community center features we celebrate today: early childhood development, information communication technology, health clinic, and theater,” said Cameron Sinclair, co‐founder of Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises ad brings professional design services to communities in need.

“Winning the Open Architecture Challenge gave SIDAREC the unique opportunity to expand the resources of our existing efforts with a brand‐new community and technology center that will incubate our youths’ potential to improve their lives and living conditions,” said Lucy Mathai, executive director of SIDAREC. “We are developing a strategic plan with 50x15 and Architecture for Humanity to ensure the community center is sustainable.”

The SIDAREC partnership with 50x15 and Architecture for Humanity plays a key role in a new feature documentary, “One Peace at a Time,” which has its Nairobi premiere tonight at the Norfolk Hotel. The film's director, Turk Pipkin, will be on hand to discuss the film and its focus on the achievable goal of providing basic rights to every child on earth.

About 50x15 Foundation
The 50x15 Foundation’s mission is to accelerate worldwide digital inclusion rates to 50 percent of the world’s population by 2015, 15 years faster than the current growth rate. Enabling affordable, sustainable and accessible Internet connectivity and computing capability in high‐growth markets provides communities with the means to participate in and benefit from the global network of commercial and educational opportunity. For more information, visit www.50x15.org.

About Architecture for Humanity
Architecture for Humanity is an organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and provides professional design services to communities in need. It hosts an annual global design challenge on the Open Architecture network to address a different systemic issue facing those living in underserved communities.

About SIDAREC
Slums Information Development Resource Center (SIDAREC) is a youth development organization based in Nairobi, Kenya, dedicated to improving living conditions in Nairobi slums.

###

Media Contact:
Alisa Hicks
50x15 Foundation
ahicks@inventures.com
1+775‐720‐5071