Raise the Radio: Fund GhettoFM construction from Architecture For Humanity on Vimeo.

The Mukuru Kwa Njenga youth technology resource center, designed for Slums Information Development Resource Center (SIDAREC) will give local residents access to the internet, computer and technology training, health clinic services, early childhood development programs and a community theater.

As part of the centers' long term economic sustainability program the center has a community bakery and a radio station, media lab and recording studio. The youth run radio station, Ghetto 99.9 FM, broadcasts to more than 650,000 local residents, giving a voice to the community.

During the planning phase for the new center, a fire destroyed SIDAREC’s previous radio tower and studio. The team modified the overall plan to include a completely new studio and launched an incremental “Raise the Radio” fund-raising campaign to ensure the entire community center opens as scheduled. Currently we are 80% funded to complete the project and we hope to complete funding before we finish major construction

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Diana Bianchini
Architecture for Humanity
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Capital News - Thousands of Nairobi children will cross the digital divide and access a global network of opportunity courtesy of a state-of-the art community center launched at Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum.

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.

Designed by The Global Studio, Seattle, WA with Planning Systems, Nairobi, Kenya.

Sadly, SIDAREC's first resource center in Pumwani, the basis for the program of the new SIDAREC Technology and Media Lab in Mukuru, was destroyed on the evening of January 28, 2009 in an electrical blaze. Thankfully, no one was hurt at the center, but very little remains. They have lost a tremendous set of resources, including the entire adult and childrens' library collection, all the computers, their meeting hall, as well as the equipment for the community radio station, Ghetto 99.9 FM. Our thoughts are with SIDAREC, and we are redoubled in our efforts to complete the new Mukuru center as soon as possible, so the organization may have a new base of operations.

The 2007 AMD Open Architecture Challenge invited the global community to help address this digital divide. It challenged design professionals and others to develop not one but many solutions for building sustainable, multi-purpose, low-cost technology facilities for those who need them most.

As the winner of the 2007 AMD Open Architecture Challenge, The Global Studio will see their ideas come to life for SIDAREC in the heart of the Mukuru Kwa Njenga settlement in Nairobi, Kenya.