When Kenya's film maker, Anne Mungai featured a group or street childern in her Unicef funded film, Usillie Mtoto Wa Africa, she discovered the children had natural theatrical talent and creative flare and together with the late film actress, Anne Wanjugu, started Shangilia.  

Founded and registered in 1994, Shangilia has proven the performing arts to be a unique means to change the attitudes and practices of over 230 former street children.

Twenty-three children gave their first public performance before a capacity audience in Nairobi's National Theatre on the eve of 12th July 1994. The occasion was on the visit to Kenya of Four members of the United Nation's Commitee of Ten (established to monitor the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child). The children's exuberant performance culminated in the building of a human pyramid from the top of which Kamau, wearing filthy tattered clothing, proclaiming the Rights of the Child. Shangilia was born with a standing ovation and the children went on to perform in schools and churches all over Kenya under the tutelage of Kenya's late popular actress, Anne Wanjugu. The children have since taken their show to Germany, Thailand, China, Zanzibar, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mayote, Greece and the USA.

The show is designed to expose and sensitize society to the rising predicament of those young lives lost on the street sniffing glue, picking pockets and prostituting themselves. Besides raising funds for the children's plight, performances have proved that performing arts are effective to both rehabilitate the child in gaining self confidence and worth, as well as demonstrate the potential of all children. Given a chance, street children have hopes, dreams, talents, and the ability to love and be loved just like other children.

As the Shangilia children's creative talents developed, it became necessary to further address the needs of those whom were orphaned or had lived with abuse, insecurity and poverty on the streets.

Shangilia has been very successful in attracting both local and international media ( NTV, KTN, KBC, CITIZEN, K-24, MNET, AL-JAZEERA, BBC ,CNN , German Television, Reuters amongst others) which has covered performances including song, dance, brass band, acrobatics, drama (espousing messages such as HIV/AIDS awareness,sanitation,hygiene) and taekwondo. The central message remains that street children who have been empowered can and do excel.

The performing arts provides the means to help rehabilitate the child. It builds self-confidence and worth, communication, concentration and team work skills, and skills in music, drama, acrobatics, tae kwondo and brass band dance.

Please support Shangilia's performing arts programme that includes instructor's salaries, costumes, instruments, stage sets and transport. A donation of $1056/- covers the basic cost of one child for one year.

Please support a child. Make a donation now to Shangilia, P.O. Box 39236, Nairobi, 00623, Kenya.

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