Kenya:Fashion show pays tuition for Kibera children

They teeter and sway down the improvised runway, pause for pose, amidst applause from the audience, the children of Magoso school, in Kibera, the largest slum in Kenya capital, catwalk to raise funds for their tuition.

Adorned in African prints and with matching accessories, proceeds from the fashion show will enable the disadvantaged children to stay in school.

“The clothes that we are wearing, some of them are going to be sold, people are going to buy them, and some are going to be given out to the children that catwalked here,so that money is going to help us and this school …” said Violette Akoth, a student.

The clothes and accessories are designed by the children with the help of the Director of the,Lilian Wagala, school, to organise the fashion show every year.

“My school is a school that helps those that are not able, like I have children who are orphans, I have those who are from single families. And also life in Kibera, the standard of living is just the same… So I do both.”

The 2009 census put population at Kibera slum at 170,000, most of them are poor living in shanty homes.

The Magoso School offers early childhood and primary education to the less privileged children in the slum. Aside the annual fashion shows, they have very talented children who are into music and other extra curricular activities to earn some money for their school fees according to Lilian Wagala.

“ Like in the girls club I do pedicure, we do the hair, I teach the children to cook, and you find that there are so many children among the children that are not good in class but when it comes to cooking, braiding hair, they are the best, when it comes to nails they are the best, so it is not that each and every one have to go to school but at least after having a small knowledge, if you have something you can hold to it is much much better.”

The annual fashion show attracts parents and guardians ,former pupils make it a point to grace the occasion at their alma mater.