The world has changed so much and so has humanity. There has been so much diversity over time that has seen some extremely wealthy and others unfathomably poor let alone for a church mouse. In these changes, the third world has been caught in the center of attention amidst slum tourism.
Yes, the people who live from hand to mouth. I mean, much of it isn't living rather survival to see the next day. Nothing is assured. Some live in houses that are merely constructed of carton box material, no proper drainage, no water supplies, poor health care,poor sanitation, insecurity and such. I say it as it is, even if I were to be crucified for it. No one wishes for that life and no one really chooses where to be born.
One thing though is different about these communities; they live as community. They mind each other with neighborly love despite diverse ethnic origin. Meet a stranger and they won't lack a genuine smile or a kind greeting or word for you, at least almost always. This is something that has eluded humanity and been replaced by individualism. This very essence for the existence of humanity has faded with increased urbanization. I can bet that you barely know five different neighbors beyond their names and the little feisty rumors you get from time to time, if you do at all.
Well, this is the spirit that lets them see another day and rise above their current status. Forming self help groups for themselves and to cater for those who can't cater for their own like orphans. They start out equipped with their talents creating a livelihood making artefacts, juakali equipment, carving, using whatever material they lay hands on. Most start with very little funds or none at all.
One cannot be really sure of the motivation and motives of an individual tourist to visit the slums. Some believe that this is what all of Africa looks like, some might come to see what poverty really is, others do it to be a part of the causes and make donations to the community projects. It's quite a shame if it's for the wrong reasons. The individual tourists motives don't really matter. It depends on a resident's individual perspective of the new niche, either pessimist or optimist. A pessimist would view it as an intrusion into their personal life, exposure to shame and even consider it nosey. Optimists on the other hand would seize the opportunity to market their fine artefacts, develop projects and find their way out of misery. Oh, and they would consider the pessimists as lazy.
This niche has been around for long in Favela in Brazil, Soweto in South Africa and Dharavi in India where the award winning Hollywood movie Slum Dog Millionaire was shot. It eventually reached Kenya at around 2006. Though it received a cold reception, with many considering it as a diversion from traditional attractions of numerous wildlife parks and reserves, it has slowly been accepted by the communities. The major attractions have been Kibera, Mukuru wa Njenga, slums all within Nairobi, with numerous travel agencies marketing them making an impression that part of the tour fee goes into donations for their project. This has been found to be a faux as told by locals, with some agencies even going to the extent of demanding refunds for part of the donations. How shameful. It's one thing to lie but it's another to steal from the poor.
Since slum tourism started in Kenya, it has seen countless celebrities visit the Kenyan slums including Russell Brand, the then Senator Barack Obama, Oliver Wilde, Chris Rock, among others.
The most recent visit was by, Curtis Jackson (50Cents) who visited Kibera slums and donated food through the WFP in early 2012. He also made other donations of 10 cents (USD) for every sale of his 'Street King' drink brand and 'vitamin water'. Here is a YouTube video of his visit to Kenya and Somalia.
All in all, change is inevitable. Doesn't matter if we take it positively or negatively, we have to find a way to adjust and make hay while the sun shines.
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