Nairobi Food Not Bombs is a local chapter of the global Food Not Bombs Social Network Movement. We recover food from well wishers as well as local supermarkets, grocery stores, bakeries, hotels, and restaurants, feed the HUNGRY for our campaign and run a media out-let for sustainability and people to tell stories the way they feel. We started by feeding and educating the street kids in korogocho and kangemi slums with a pilot project which was funded by our fellow activists and I. Preferably ages 9-13 and get special series of articles on Kenya/issues in Kenya over the span of few issues from the kids themselves, which will be printed by http://www.indykids.net and filmmaking, while the kids are working on a short film called project ghetto which was shot in kangemi slums and touching on issues like drug abuse, domestic violence, prostitution and petty theft. Nairobi FNB collective recover food from well wishers, local stores and delivers to local shelters, street children, as well as serving it ourselves to the hungry in concerts, parks etc. For the office sustainability we also have a media out-let (video, audio, radio, photo journalism, printing press, embroidery, logo design, banners, graphic design and animation). Our workshops entail programs which cover: all aspects of film making, TV photo journalism, radio construction and broadcasting, interviewing, editing and production of audio programming, silk-screen production and design, grass roots organizational skills and group facilitation and consensus, decision making skills. Nairobi FNB idea is to feed and educate at least every Saturday.

HOW TO BUILD ALTERNATIVE INSTITUTIONS: Organizing a Food Not Bombs Chapter. Food not bombs shares free vegetarian food with hungry people, and protests war and poverty. Food Not Bombs now has hundreds of autonomous chapters throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. The first group was formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1980 by anti-nuclear activists. Food Not Bombs is an all volunteer organization dedicated to nonviolent social change. Food not bombs has no formal leaders and strives to include everyone in its decision-making process. Each group recovers food that would otherwise be thrown out and makes fresh hot vegetarian meals that are served in public spaces to anyone without restriction. Each independent group also serves free vegetarian meals at protests and other events. At the outset, starting a Food Not Bombs might seem like more than you can handle. Work on the basics, taking one step at a time. There is no need to feel pressured into accomplishing everything all at once. Once you have made the decision on start a local food not bombs group, talk to other people you know who might be interested. It might be a group of friends, or members of an existing group. Pick a meeting date, time, and place. The following is a suggested step-by-step process. Step 1: Establish Contact Points Start by getting a phone number, email address, and a mailing address. Use a voice mailbox, so you can have an out-going message with information about the next meeting time and place and you can receive messages so you never miss a call. Likewise, use a commercial mailbox or post box for your permanent address. Step 2: Publicize Meetings Next, make flyers announcing the existence of a local Food Not Bombs group. By handling them out at events, posting them around town, and/or mailing them out to your friends, you will start getting phone calls, mail, and additional volunteers. Step 3: Find a Vehicle The next step is to arrange for the use of a vehicle. You might be able to arrange borrowing a van or truck from a sympathetic church group or similar organization. In some cases it’s better to use bikes and bike carts. This is very common in Europe. Step 4: Locate Food With flyers in hand, begin looking for sources of food. The first places to approach are the local food co-ops and health food stores. These types of stores tend to be more supportive and are a good place to practice your approach. Ask the produce managers if they ever throw away any excess produce. Explain that you are willing to collect any food which is still edible but which will not or cannot be sold. Early on, also visit bakeries and ask for day old bread.

Step 5: Deliver Deliver this bulk food to shelters and meal kitchens. It is important to get to know the food pantries and soup kitchens in your area. Learn where they are located, whom they serve, and how many they serve. As your delivery route develops, the schedule of free food programs in your community will become clear to you. With this information, you will know where and when there is need to provide a hot meal and, therefore, where and when to set-up a food Not Bombs table out in public on the street or in a park. Step 6: Serve on the Streets It won’t be long before the network of a few stores and bakeries will be giving more food than you will be able to distribute to shelters. At first, go to demonstrations. There, the group can recruit more volunteers, collect donations, and lift spirits. Step 7: Serve Homeless People Once there are enough people involved consider serving meals one day a week to the homeless on the street in a visible way. Every group has different kitchen arrangements. Some use several people’s home kitchens; some use a donated church kitchen or other industrial-strength kitchen, and some use propane stoves and cook right at the site. Please visit these pages http://foodnotbombs.net and http://consensus.net to find out how you can help us work for peace and justice.

Article written by Douglas Rori Independent Activist Journalist/Filmmaker