The project is organised through vikundi (groups – singular: kikundi) divided into different age groups which take part in dance, drama/puppetry, music and acrobatics. The project supports vikundi or art groups in seven slum areas by conducting trainings in dance, drama and puppetry, music and acrobatics. In addition, the project provides the various vikundi with instruments and costumes for performances.

Every Saturday the project holds a two-hour participatory educational theatre show, which includes acrobatics, music, dance and drama. In order to reach both the young and the old, these shows are mainly staged near a market. The skits(short plays) developed are participatory and the audience maintains the power to decide what direction the skit should take. This allows open communication between community members and the performers. Usually a discussion erupts, which gives project peer educators and counsellors an opportunity to elaborate further about the issues affecting the community. On several occasions the project has performed for audiences of up to 1000 people.

The project also conducts Participatory Educative Theatre performances in schools, often about reproductive health. Teachers and students attend the shows, which encourages discussion between the performers, teachers and students.

The project uses
Dance, Music, Drama and Acrobatics as it believes that this is the most effective and entertaining ways to exchange important information. These activities also offer youth a chance to develop, to express creativity and to showcase skills and special talents. All these help in personal development - physically, mentally and creatively.

The arts are also seen to promote social integration.
Just like sport, the arts draw a big audience and can therefore promote unity and solidarity amongst generations. The organisers also believe that the arts have the ability to erase differences in race, religion, gender, age, political affiliations etc.

In addition,
the history of many African communities is not documented; and the arts provided a means of passing information from one generation to the next. The Haba na Haba project has therefore used familiar folk media to convey information to the community.

The MYSA office has an Interactive Wall, managed in conjunction with the Kuona Trust, a network of Kenyan artists, who repaint the wall quarterly. Subjects include:
Women’s empowerment; Rape; Education; Alcohol and drug abuse information.
Images are the main focus, since not everyone can read in English and/or Swahili. At the end of the wall is a small blackboard where comments may be written down. MYSA is hoping to expand such Interactive Walls into neighbouring communities.

Youth, HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health

The project’s achievements include:

• The Haba na Haba Project has spread to seven areas and has 200 members
• Over 300,000 people have attended our participatory educative theatres and school Interactive theatres since 1999
• Over the years the project has managed to develop several youth who have featured on TV, in movies and in the theatre, as actors, dancers, musicians and choreographers.
• Produced two music CDs.
• Participated in international cultural exchanges.