Manyatta Youth Entertainment CBO famously known as MAYE; is an art for social change, notfor-profit youth-led Community Based Organization (CBO) with active social footprints in Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi Counties within the coastal region of Kenya. Founded in 2007 and later in 2011 established as a Youth led and Youth serving Community based organization, is focused on providing young people, especially the highly disadvantaged and marginalized a viable platform on which they can openly address issues affecting them and their grassroots communities, such as the promotion of community resilience, sexual reproductive Rights-SRHR, Mental health, social accountability, and socio-economic justice, besides engaging in creative, theatrical and innovative means to formulate sustainable solutions to challenges affecting the society. MAYE provides a forum for positive engagement, dialogue, and interaction with the other existing institutions, the various other religious bodies, the private sector, and the government through arts, sports, Online and Social media to champion sustainable peace and violence prevention among youth, women, and children in local communities. For more than 10 years, MAYE has been instrumental in triggering social change and during the transformational agenda in the lives of young people and coastal communities. Today, we are called to sharpen our focus, deepen our impact, and clarify our values and practices so that we are best prepared to fulfill our mission and make a positive impact on young people and society in general.
As a creative and innovation organization, MAYE applies non-conventional means such as art, Music, sports and media as communication and engagement tools, this sits very well for both young and old but with a special space in Adolescent youth. MAYE established and is managing Anika Community Hub offering a safe space for young people, Anika Community Media, an online communication platform led by young people with an aim of amplifying voices of marginalized communities and Anika farm offering agri-business training and mentorship as an alternative means for livelihoods and economic empowerment. Application of Sports and Dialogue has added value to MAYE strategies in engagement with young people. Through the famous sports na sanaa; an annual football, boxing and martial arts festivals remain the center of adolescent youth and communities at large. The establishment of the finest Anika Band has further given MAYE vibrancy in attracting adolescent young people with talent, skill transfer. MAYE is honored to serve as a Coordinator to the larger civil society Network in Coast Region of Kenya. Is a founding member for the Mombasa Development Trust; a Local development Organization Co-created by Mombasa Communities with support from YETU initiative under Agakhan Foundation and USAID. MAYE Forms part of the Mombasa County engagement forum on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism mandated to lead the Economic pillar. Part of the Mombasa County Health advocacy network-MCHANE. Member to the Pwani Gender based violence-GBV network in Mombasa. Also hosts the African Artists Peace Initiative-AAPI- Kenyan Chapter. These are networks that give MAYE a national and international recognition.
The foundation of MAYE
The Name
The name Manyatta refers to a traditional house belonging to the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The Maasai community is well known for maintaining its rich culture and traditions. Therefore, Manyatta Youth Entertainment (CBO) famously known as MAYE tends to promote the rich culture of different communities in Kenya hence the adoption of the name and the motto "Your Culture Our Culture".
KEY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
- Participatory Action Research
- Arts Culture engagement for social change
- Use of Digital media as a Strategic Platform to give Voice to the Poor and Marginalized Communities.
- Use of Dialogue as a constructive avenue between communities and their leaders.
- Use of livelihood and economic empowerment as key stepping stones for lobby and advocacy.
Vision Statement
"A drug-free and peaceful society in which all youths are rich in culture, talents and realize their full potential"
Mission Statement
To spearhead a positive change of attitude among the youths, women and vulnerable children within the community through advocacy, creating linkages, enhancing capacities to increase access to opportunities for self-sufficiency and prosperity
Core Values
- Transparency and accountability
- Teamwork Integrity and Commitment
- Creativity and Innovation
- Upholding human rights, dignity &rule of law