Celebrating Creative Power: Sanara Usanii Day Amplifies Youth Talent, Identity & Inclusive Growth
Business Updated: 07 November 2025 16:02 EAT
BY BILL CLINTON
The creative spirit pulsed through Baraza Media Lab as an ecosystem of collaboration bringing together HEVA Fund, Baraza Media Lab, Mastercard Foundation, SNDBX Ubuntu, and GoDown Arts Centre, among others, converged for Sanara Usanii Day, a vibrant celebration of Kenya’s creative and cultural industries, powered by the Sanara Program.
At its core, the Sanara Program is focused on equipping young women, men, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) with practical skills, mentorship, industry exposure, and meaningful employment opportunities across Kenya’s creative ecosystem.
Themed: “Review, Reflect and Celebrate Impact Together” , The gathering spotlighted young people driving innovation through art, storytelling, music, design, and digital expression, while reaffirming the program’s mission to build inclusive and dignified pathways to work.
The event commenced with an impact video capturing the program’s journey and milestones. Participants then enjoyed an exciting mix of activities ranging from fashion showcases and musical performances to storytelling sessions and facilitated conversations.
All this captured a mixture of heritage, identity, sustainability, and artistic innovation. Talent grown and nurtured under the program and powerful personal testimonies about how Sanara has supported skill development, confidence, business capacity, and creative visibility.
Recognizing that creativity requires capital to scale, the program spotlighted Access to Finance, a pillar supporting young creatives in starting, growing, and professionalizing their work.
HEVA Fund’s Wakiuru Njuguna highlighted the importance of tangible financial support:
“Pesa Mfukoni… we recognize that for creatives and artists to actually make a living for themselves, we have to put money in their pockets, we have to invest in infrastructure. We have loans and also have grants — we leave no one behind. From start-ups, early-stage artists, and also more established businesses.”
This reflects a holistic approach, pairing financing with infrastructure and business development.
Representing MasterCard Foundation, Casper Pedo emphasized the broader cultural and economic promise of the creative sector:
“The creative and cultural industries are not just about art, music… actually it is much more of our identity. It is about innovation and it’s about opportunity. At MasterCard Foundation, we believe that creativity and talent, when nurtured and supported, open pathways for dignified and fulfilling work for young people.”
This vision reflects the Foundation’s belief that creativity remains a powerful avenue for youth employment, self-expression, and community transformation.
The event demonstrated that when creativity is supported with resources, training, and business development, it becomes a catalyst for social and economic transformation.
Sanara Usanii Day concluded with reflections from partners and participants, celebrating the progress achieved while renewing commitment to strengthening Kenya’s creative industries.
Kenya’s creative economy is thriving, and young people are ready to lead with courage, imagination, and innovation.
Tags: Sanara HEVA Fund SNDBX Ubuntu Mastercard Foundation Editor's Pick
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Edith stacy
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