Kids photograph the slum they call home

By Will Worley, for CNN

Updated 1510 GMT (2310 HKT) January 7, 2016

The Mathare Slum in Nairobi, Kenya, has a reputation for poverty, crime and overcrowding. There are few opportunities for its children. <br /><br />However, there is a charity operating there which aims to change this in a novel way. <br /><a href="http://www.matharefoundation.org/" target="_blank">The Mathare Foundation</a>, established and run by local volunteers like Eric Omwanda, teaches photography to children from Mathare. <br /><br />Here, a student is coached by Mathare volunteer James Otieno, who was a runner up in the Canon Kenya Photography Awards.
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The Mathare Slum in Nairobi, Kenya, has a reputation for poverty, crime and overcrowding. There are few opportunities for its children.

However, there is a charity operating there which aims to change this in a novel way.
The Mathare Foundation, established and run by local volunteers like Eric Omwanda, teaches photography to children from Mathare.

Here, a student is coached by Mathare volunteer James Otieno, who was a runner up in the Canon Kenya Photography Awards.
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The photos offer a unique, insider's insight into life in Mathare, and capture nuances and details that might be missed by an outsider. In this photo, a woman's stall remains open to sell vegetables into the night. <br />
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The photos offer a unique, insider's insight into life in Mathare, and capture nuances and details that might be missed by an outsider. In this photo, a woman's stall remains open to sell vegetables into the night.
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Many of the photos taken by the children reflect the harsh environment they are forced to live in. Hygiene is poor and raw sewage is often present in the streets<br />Here, a young girl does her laundry by the side of the road.
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Many of the photos taken by the children reflect the harsh environment they are forced to live in. Hygiene is poor and raw sewage is often present in the streets
Here, a young girl does her laundry by the side of the road.
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Other photos show a side of life which is seen far less by the outside world. Here, a street preacher delivers an address while wearing clothing made from sacks.
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Other photos show a side of life which is seen far less by the outside world. Here, a street preacher delivers an address while wearing clothing made from sacks.
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Omwanda notes that his students, though children, demonstrate a keen eye in their photographs. This image, taken by Gladdy Moraa, is called 'children must be given time to play.'
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Omwanda notes that his students, though children, demonstrate a keen eye in their photographs. This image, taken by Gladdy Moraa, is called 'children must be given time to play.'
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Omwanda also notes there is a lot of positivity in Mathare, and a lot of passion and commitment, as is evident in this image of children playing soccer.<br />"It doesn't matter whether we have playing shoes or not. What matters is the passion and skills," he says.
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Omwanda also notes there is a lot of positivity in Mathare, and a lot of passion and commitment, as is evident in this image of children playing soccer.
"It doesn't matter whether we have playing shoes or not. What matters is the passion and skills," he says.
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This photograph of two siblings clutching each other in an embrace shows that love endures in the slums, despite the other evident hardships.
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This photograph of two siblings clutching each other in an embrace shows that love endures in the slums, despite the other evident hardships.
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Students have also documented the informal economy which supports many poor people in Kenya. Here, a man sells wallets and sandals at a gas station in Kiambu, near Nairobi.
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Students have also documented the informal economy which supports many poor people in Kenya. Here, a man sells wallets and sandals at a gas station in Kiambu, near Nairobi.
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One student captures the effect of the dangerous local brew, Chang'aa, a notorious moonshine that purveyors sometimes mix with jet fuel or embalming fluid in order to speed up production.
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One student captures the effect of the dangerous local brew, Chang'aa, a notorious moonshine that purveyors sometimes mix with jet fuel or embalming fluid in order to speed up production.
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Other images, like this one taken by younger Pamela Anyango, showcase the dangers of the infrastructure issues within Mathare.
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Other images, like this one taken by younger Pamela Anyango, showcase the dangers of the infrastructure issues within Mathare.
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Omwanda notes that in addition to the challenges present in Mathare, his students also are able to capture the color and character of the place.