Creative Kids International

Creative Kids International (CKI) is a creative visual arts education organisation working in the UK and Africa.

In Africa, CKI works with partner organisations to provide unique creative experiences for children and young people who are often overlooked by society, offering them opportunities to have a voice, learn new skills, gain confidence and get creative!

Set up in 2008 to work in partnership with Zambian charity Barefeet Theatre, CKI have since worked on two annual Youth Arts Festivals in Lusaka with over 1500 children and young people at each. Many of these children live or have previously lived on the streets. In 2010 the festival was supported by UNICEF and the theme was Climate Change. CKI works with children, young people and trains adult facilitators to make costumes, large scale carnival structures, props and sets for performances. CKI has also co-ordinated several fashion shows, and worked on a performance at the Lusaka Playhouse with Barefeet Theatre.

CKI also works with schools in Zambia delivering creative art workshops for children, skills training for teachers, and providing educational resources to compliment this. CKI focuses on bringing creative methods into the classroom on a limited budget. Creative ways of learning are often absent in schools in Zambia, due to shortage of resources and lack of training for teachers.

In the UK, CKI raises awareness of issues faced in Zambia, shares skills and experiences gained through working with partners, and offers people in the UK the chance to learn about Zambia and its’ rich culture through the arts. This is achieved through workshops (at schools, festivals and community events), exhibitions, fundraising events and talks.

CKI has also recently made links with organisations in Kenya which we plan to develop in the future.

“We believe that you can give a child water to drink, food to eat and some clothes for their back, but unless you do something to nourish their spirit, then you won’t truly be able to help them........we truly want to feed their souls and inspire them to want to help themselves.” Adam MaGuigan, Barefeet Director.

LIFE ON THE STREETS OF LUSAKA…………

Many of the children (some as young as 6 years old) and young people on the streets live in abject poverty and are addicted to sniffing ‘sticka’ (toxic glue) which they inhale from plastic bottles and looks like water. This is a way of escaping from the harsh realities of life on the street, which can include; hunger, abuse, prostitution, poor sanitation and health, no family and no where to safe to sleep at night. Many of the children have also been affected in some way by the HIV/AIDS pandemic sweeping sub Saharan Africa.

If you're interested in becoming a member of Creative Kids International please contact ckimembership@hotmail.co.uk for further information.

Membership costs only £12 per year for individuals and means you will be kept updated on the project and invited to events/exhibitions/AGM.