In a session initiated by the Centre for Heritage Development in Africa, CHDA as a part of its focus on Heritage Development WITH Youth,  facilitated by the National Museums of Kenya, with participation from the Abasuba Community Peace Museum on the World Heritage Site, Lamu Island, youth between Lamu and Old Town Mombasa connected!

Old Town Mombasa is on the list of sites to be evaluated for World Heritage Site status and so it was with great excitement that the youth of these two historic cities on two islands in Kenya could exchange life experiences, issues of concern to them and how heritage could address some of the concerns which they have.

 An opportunity was provided with the presence of Jack Obonyo, the Curator of the Abasuba Community Peace Museum, for all the youth to understand the role in which heritage can play in peace building. The next on line conversation will take place in mid-September, this time to include another island in Kenya, Mfangano Island where the Community Museum is based.

This three way conversation through the use of technology is aimed at encouraging young people to articulate their issues and needs across culturally and economically diverse backgrounds and to explore the many ways in which heritage could become an asset for social and economic growth in their local communities. The process of engagement and the solutions need to emerge from the youth themselves as a strategic effort in sustaining change efforts. One of the ideas which emerged after the conversation was to create an opportunity for youth to engage in a cultural exchange program within Kenya… Who knows? Watch this space….
The team also agreed that each and every youth needs to start writing on the youth Blog on CHDA website. This will enable other stakeholders to know more about what each and every group is doing and what is new in other areas. Hopefully through this process a network of young heritage activists could be catalysed across the continent.