Synergy Rising NGO
Short Story
About Synergy Rising
As the non-profit arm of Synergy Yoga, Synergy Rising is a youth empowerment organization that uses movement arts and interactive knowledge-based workshops to create expanded life choices for youth in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya and the Sacred Valley of Peru. Synergy Rising offers fiscal support and sponsorship to the two programs that it’s affiliated with in Kenya and Peru – Kibera Rising (Kenya) and Urbamba Rik’chary (Peru)
Kibera Rising offers free dance; capoeira angola; and knowledge-based workshops for youth in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. The program grew out of an initiative that was established by Kibera resident, community organizer and self-taught breaker (breakdancer), Victor Onyango. Following Kenya’s 2007 post-election violence, which left communities like Kibera in shambles, Victor became inspired to create a safe space for creative expression for youth in the community.
Years later, he connected with Synergy Yoga Co-Director, Salim Rollins and invited him to teach the Afro-Brazilian martial, capoeira angola, to youth in the community. Through this collaboration, the seeds of Kibera Rising were planted and the program currently serves over 60 youth per week with ongoing classes Monday through Saturday at their center at St. George Orthodox Church in Kibera, Kenya. The programs include Slum Dance Africa; Capoeira Kibera; and The Empowerment Program for Teen Girls.
Through this collaboration, the seeds of Kibera Rising were planted and the program currently serves over 60 youth per week with ongoing classes Monday through Saturday at their center at St. George Orthodox Church in Kibera, Kenya. The programs include Slum Dance Africa; Capoeira Kibera; and The Empowerment Program for Teen Girls.
As the non-profit arm of synergy yoga, Synergy Rising supports youth empowerment and movement arts program in Kenya and Peru. Synergy Rising serves as the fiscal sponsor to Inuka Cultural Center, which offers free dance; capoeira Angola; and knowledge-based workshops for youth in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.