Kibera, Nairobi / Church Army Africa

Amplifying
Voices from Below

A founding investment of $42,000 equips seven Kibera musicians as certified instructors, fits out a professional studio, and launches a creative enterprise projected to be fully self-sustaining within 18 months.

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~1M

People in Kibera, Africa's largest urban slum

60%

Population under 35 years old

80%

Youth unemployment in informal settlements

7

Music disciplines: instruments through production

The Tafakari Centre, Kibera

The Tafakari Centre, a purpose-built facility rising above Kibera's rooftops

The Context

Africa's Largest Urban Slum

Kibera is Africa's largest urban slum, home to nearly one million people in fewer than three square kilometres of Nairobi. A place of staggering resilience, raw creative talent, and crushing economic exclusion.

Built by Church Army Africa, the Tafakari Centre empowers young adults, domestic abuse survivors, and aspiring creatives with skills, dignity, and economic opportunity. Tafakari Music Studio is the Centre's newest initiative: a professional-grade recording, media, and creative training facility serving Kibera and the wider East Africa creative community.

The building is complete. The leadership is in place. The community is ready. All that is missing is equipment and training.

~1M

People in Kibera

60%

Population under 35

80%

Youth unemployment

7

Music disciplines

The Leaders

The People Behind the Vision

A partnership between Church Army Africa and Creative Lab Academy (UK): seven local musicians trained as certified instructors, musically excellent and spiritually grounded.

Capt Simon Peter Waiti

Director, Centre for Urban Mission / Church Army Africa

Capt Simon Peter Waiti

Church Army Africa, Kibera, Nairobi

Capt Waiti leads the Centre for Urban Mission at Church Army Africa, the driving force behind the Tafakari Centre in Kibera. A seasoned urban mission leader, he has built programmes uniting spiritual formation, economic empowerment, and creative expression. His conviction: every person carries gifts worth amplifying.

Jon Goode

Managing Director / Creative Lab Academy

Jon Goode

Creative Lab Academy, United Kingdom

Jon develops bespoke music curricula for the global church at Creative Lab Academy. With an MRes and FHEA, he has held senior roles at the University of South Wales and ICMP. A touring bassist and keyboardist (Kosheen, Black Mantis; BBC, Sky, ITV), Jon brings proven African church experience to this programme.

Programme Partner

Creative Lab Academy (UK) delivers the online curriculum and certification. LCME accreditation is in progress, which will open further qualification pathways for graduates. This partnership brings internationally recognised qualifications to Kibera for the first time.

The Programme

Train the Trainers

A 10-week online and in-person curriculum training seven community musicians as certified instructors, followed by ongoing community cohort delivery. More than music: in-person discipleship small groups run concurrently throughout all ten weeks, ensuring trainees develop musically, spiritually, and pastorally.

Phase Activity Mode Duration
1 Creative Lab Academy Tutor Training: 7 specialist disciplines (one per trainee), then shared teacher training Online Wks 1-10
2 Discipleship and Worship Development (concurrent with Phase 1) In-person Wks 1-10
3 Student Delivery: trained tutors teach the community cohort In-person Ongoing
* Grand Finale Concert: live assessment and community celebration Public Wk 11

Certification: Creative Lab Academy Certificate

CLA programme certificate awarded on successful completion. All standard educational quality processes apply. LCME accreditation in progress, which will open further qualification pathways for graduates.

7 Specialist Disciplines

One per trainee, 10 lessons each

Drums
Bass
Guitar
Keys
Vocals
Logic Pro
Songwriting
+ Teacher Training (all 7 trainees)

Delivery Team

Creative Lab Academy (UK)

Online curriculum and certification

Lead Tutor

In-country coordination

7 Local Tutors

Instrument and module delivery

Discipleship Leader

Concurrent spiritual formation

The Budget

A Total Investment of $42,000

A total investment of $42,000 funds Phase 1 in full: training seven community musicians as certified instructors, purchasing professional studio equipment, and commissioning the facility.

01 / Creative Lab Academy Training

Programme, Curriculum and Certification

$7,675

10-week Creative Lab Academy programme. Each trainee specialises in one of 7 disciplines, then all complete shared teacher training. Includes website build and Logic Pro licensing.

02 / Professional Studio Equipment

Full Studio Fit-Out

$26,610

Full studio fit-out per Sweetwater Quote #11501528 (Feb 2026). Mics, monitors, cameras, DAW workstations. $3,800 discount applied.

03 / Import and Setup

Freight, Customs and Installation

$7,715

Freight, customs, insurance, installation and contingency. US to Kibera, Kenya.

Total Investment Required $42,000

Trained instructors will generate income through studio services, training fees, and creative commissions. Tafakari is projected to be operationally self-sustaining within 18 months. Hands Up, Not Hands Out.

Item Source Amount
Studio Equipment (list price) Sweetwater #11501528 $30,410
Bundle Discount Sweetwater rate -$3,800
Net Equipment Cost $26,610
Creative Lab Academy Tuition (7 disciplines + teacher training) Creative Lab Academy $6,350
Website and Logic Pro Licensing CLA / local vendor $1,325
Freight, Import and Customs Estimate $5,715
Installation and Contingency (10%) $2,000
Grand Total $42,000

The Impact

Year 1 Outcomes

Training at the Tafakari Centre

The Centre already runs vocational training for women and domestic abuse survivors. The music studio extends this proven model. The building is complete. Capt Simon Peter Waiti and his team are ready. This one-time investment unlocks a permanent creative and spiritual asset for Kibera.

Outcome Target
Creative Lab Academy certified trainers 7
Community students trained 80+
Music disciplines offered 7
Income-generating graduates 40+
Grand Finale concerts (Year 1) 1
Community reached ~1M
Local Teaching Equipment For in-Kibera classroom delivery, local teaching instruments will be sourced separately in Kenya (est. KES 350,000 / ~$2,700), including: drum kit, 5 keyboards, 3 guitars, 2 bass guitars and amps, 2 microphones and PA system. This local set equips the teaching space. The Sweetwater package provides the professional studio recording suite: two distinct but complementary systems.

Endorsements

Voices of Support

The Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit, Archbishop of Kenya
"I had the privilege of opening the Tafakari Centre. I have seen with my own eyes the transformation Captain Simon Peter Waiti and his team are bringing to Kibera. This initiative is doing exactly what the Church of Kenya exists to do. I commend it unreservedly."

The Most Rev. Jackson Ole Sapit

Archbishop of Kenya / Diocese of All Saints, Nairobi

Canon William Beasley
"I have visited the Tafakari Centre in the heart of Kibera many times. Every visit I find extraordinary people doing transformative work under the faithful leadership of Captain Simon Peter Waiti. The vision is clear, the need is real. I wholeheartedly endorse this initiative."

Canon William Beasley

Supporter and Friend of the Tafakari Centre, Kibera

How to Give

Four Ways to Partner

$42,000

Founding Studio Partner

Full investment. Named as founding sponsor in the facility and all materials.

Give Now
$26,610

Equipment Champion

Fund the complete Sweetwater professional studio package: microphones, monitors, cameras, and workstations.

Give Now
$7,675

Training Patron

Sponsor the full 10-week Creative Lab Academy programme across all seven specialist disciplines.

Give Now
$635

Discipline Sponsor

Sponsor one complete discipline: Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals, Logic, Songwriting, or Teacher Training.

Give Now

Get in Touch

Ready to Partner?

urbanmission@churcharmyafrica.net directorcum@churcharmyafrica.net +254 720 844 582

Capt Simon Peter Waiti

Director, Centre for Urban Mission
Church Army Africa / Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya

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