Special Report LAST UPDATE February 6, 2010
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October 16, 2009 Defending Childhood in Mtwapa Village
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Children from Mtwapa Village put on a small concert for Peace Boat participants before the ship departed from Kenya. The children performed songs and poems about the challenges they face but also about their hope for the future.
When you meet the children of Mtwapa it is easy to imagine they lead a life of comfort and provision. Their bright eyes and brilliant smiles suggest contentment and security. Unfortunately, this impression bears no resemblance to the reality of life in the community.

Mtwapa is a small fishing village 30 km north of Mombasa, Kenya. The area is an attractive location for fishing and water sports. Over the past 30 years, tourism has grown steadily. The new industry changed the way of life in Mtwapa, leading to the emergence of a number of social and economic problems. Among them are an increase in the price of food, an unemployment rate of 80%, an increase in HIV infections and crime. Street peddling and prostitution have become more common alternatives to the classroom for many Mtwapa youth.
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High unemployment in Mtwapa makes it difficult for families to adequately provide for their children. Over one hundred children rely on the Agape Center for their daily meals.

Most families in the village live in single room dwellings with no running water or electricity. Mtwapa residents spend US$ 1 for 20 liters of drinking water. This comes out of a monthly income of about US$ 50 for two parent households, or US$25 for single mothers. Much of the resources and attention of the household is focused on securing shelter and sustenance. With priorities elsewhere, thousands of children in Mtwapa run the risk of receiving very poor education, if any education at all.

In 2002, John and Isabella Opindoh established the Agape Center for Children to offer care and education to orphans 4-13 years of age. Today the Agape initiative includes a kindergarten and a vocational school. 150 children in Mtwapa look to the Agape Center for basic education and meals. John and Isabella struggle to provide food for the children and often can only offer one meal a day.
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Participants on the 67th voyage paint a mural on a new wall at the Agape Center. The mural comprises the handprints of Peace Boat participants and children at the school and includes the words PEACE, LOVE, DREAM and HOPE in Japanese, English and Swahili.
Ahead of the 67th voyage, Peace Boat organized several activities to raise funds for the center. The money was used to finish a roof and construct an additional room at the school. To commemorate the long-standing partnership between Peace Boat and Agape, participants painted a mural on one of the newly constructed walls.

Despite this contribution, a number of participants felt overwhelmed by the range of challenges facing Mtwapa village. 22 year-old Inami Wakabe said she felt powerless when a mother and child came up to her repeating, “I’m hungry. I’m hungry”. Mtwapa Project Coordinator for the 67th Voyage Ueshima Yasuhiro agreed that much more needed to be done. He said that in addition to offering material goods and infrastructural support to Agape, it was clear the center also needed assistance with drinking water and food. While affirming Peace Boat’s commitment to Agape, he hoped that other individuals and groups would also get involved with the center.

Guest Educator Harada Eri also visited Mtwapa Village. Ms Harada held a series of Pilates classes in Tokyo before the 67th voyage to raise funds for the Agape Center. She too was sobered by her time in the village. Ms Harada nevertheless returned from the tour hopeful and inspired. She said that the strength of the people of Mtwapa was undeniable. Ms Harada said she was committed to play her part to help the circumstances of Mtwapa village better match the smiles of its residents.