A two-part S4C documentary series will follow children from the slums of Nairobi in Kenya and Nefyn in the Llŷn Peninsula as they come together to work on creative projects that could change their lives forever.
The documentary series O Nefyn i Nairobi follows the children of Nefyn Primary School and Spurgeons Academy, Nairobi on an exciting exchange that will lead to unique performances at Eryri Urdd Eisteddfod 2012 and Nefyn Carnival in June.
Since the two schools were twinned last year, they have forged a close relationship which has expanded the horizons of the pupils, despite the differences in background and living standards.
Nefyn is a pleasant seaside village of 2,500 people with all the amenities of modern life in the West, while Spurgeons Academy is in Kibera, the second largest urban slum in Africa, where up to one million people live in extreme poverty, without basic services such as electricity and running water.
This exchange is part of the continuing work of 'Anno's Africa', a charity set up in the name of Anno Birkin, a talented young Welsh musician and poet who was killed in a car crash in November 2001. The charity is primarily run by Anno's mother, Nefyn resident, Bee Gilbert and brings Arts education to some of East Africa's most disadvantaged children.
Ysgol Nefyn primary school is helping to sponsor the education of five orphaned children in Nairobi and ensures regular correspondence with the children at the Spurgeons Academy.
Now Ysgol Nefyn has arranged for four children aged 10 from Nairobi to spend two weeks living with their new Welsh friends, attending the school and finding out about the differences and similarities in their lives.
The S4C series, produced by ie ie production company, follows Fredrick, Wilson, Viginia and Victoria on their visit and sees them prepare to perform their song 'Mama' at the Urdd National Eisteddfod Eryri 2012 and Nefyn Carnival. The song was written in Swahili by the Spurgeons Academy children and translated into Welsh.
Joy Brown, one of the main organisers of the twinning, said, "I know this is going to be an emotional journey. So far everything we have learnt about the children in Nairobi and their lives has been through images and other people's anecdotes. Now we are going to see and experience it for ourselves. The children of Nefyn primary school have been unbelievable. Their desire to help children less fortunate than themselves has been incredible. And now they are going to meet each other."
Series producer Catryn Ramasut added, "It is an honour for me and director Harry Holm to have been asked to get involved and follow this inaugural Anno's Africa exchange. This opportunity will hopefully enable this generation of children and future generations to have a better understanding of each other's cultures and a unique insight into each other's lives."
