Sarakasi Trust is a performing arts development organization working toward building capacity in the arts sector in Kenya. The organization’s core stems from a firm belief in the use of Culture for Development and the positive role that culture can play to eradicate poverty.

Since its establishment in 2001 the Trust has run a training and outreach program that continues to touch lives of thousands of children and young adults growing up in the slums of Nairobi every year. In addition Sarakasi’s lively and now famous international exchange and performance program has seen literally hundreds of artists benefit from the experience and often the financial benefits that performing on the world’s stages can offer.

Sarakasi Trust is a nonprofit donor and is based at Ngara at the (Dome) former Shan cinema. We support numerous of dancers and acrobats who are from the slums and lack income by providing opportunity where they can use their talent as a source of revenue. Our dancers and acrobats are a renowned group and are professional, experienced and furnished with life skills.

Vision: Arts and Culture for a better world!

Mission: To develop, facilitate, support and promote arts and culture for social and economic advancement of society.

Activities

1. We facilitate training and capacity building for acrobats and dancers.
2. Cultural exchanges and (international) contracts/ performance opportunities
3. Audience building projects

• Sawa Sawa Festival
• Sawa Sawa Record Label
• Dome Programming

4. Special Projects

• Talanta Project
• Sarakasi Trust Hospital Project
• Africa Yoga Project
• Artist Agency
• Dubbelleuk Project

Ngara

We are situated along Ngara Road, Nairobi, opposite the Post Office

Trustees

Sarakasi Trust has 7 Trustees who are all deeply embedded in (East) African society and its social and cultural life. The Trustees manage the Trust on a non-profit, voluntary, non-commercial and free of charge basis.

Sarakasi Trustees

1.Rudy van Dijck (Chairman & Founder)
2.Marion van Dijck (Founder, Trustee, Managing Director)
3.Nasir Karmali
4.Mumbi Kaigwa
5.Sam Mwai
6.Waringa Njonjo
7.Wouter Jan Verwiel

Contact Us

Do you have any questions or would you just like to know more about Sarakasi? Please feel free to contact us through the means listed below.

General Inquiries:
Sarakasi Trust
P.O. Box 33339
00600 Ngara
Nairobi, Kenya

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel/Fax: +254 20 374 2990
Tel: +254 20 374 2991, +254 20 374 2994
Mobile: +254 724 747769

To book performers:
Contact Person: Rahim Otieno
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: 3742991/4

To rent space at Sarakasi Dome:
Contact Person: Gloria Soni/ Dave Ojay
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: 3742991/4

Sarakasi Team

Marion van Dijck – Managing Director
James Munga - Business Manager
Tabitha Muchemi - Accountant
Rahim Otieno - Project Officer/Events
Gloria Soni – Project Officer/Service Operations
Harrison Kivuti - Office Assistant
John Washika – Acrobatics Coordinator
James Njunge - Assistant Acrobatics
Maurice Odour – Field Supervisor, Outreach Program
Edwin Odhiambo –Dance Coordinator/ Choreographer
Issa Odero - Assistant Dance
Fernande Verwiel – Sarakasi Trust Hospital Project
Kevin Omolo – Assistant, Sarakasi Trust Hospital Project
Paige Elenson – Africa Yoga Project
Moses Mbaja – Assistant, Africa Yoga Project
Christine Moraa – Talanta Project
Jackson Agufana – Talanta Project

Sponsors and Donors

Royal Netherlands Embassy- Nairobi
Royal Norwegian Embassy- Nairobi
Mundial Productions – Netherlands
United Cultures for Development - Netherlands
Stichting Doen - Netherlands
Terre des Hommes – Netherlands
Cordaid, Netherlands
Dubbeleuk Foundation - Netherlands
Umoja Cultural Flying Carpet – Norway
Africa Yoga Project
Transparency International-Kenya
FK - Norway
Jeunesses Musicale International (JMI) – Brussels
United Flower Organization (UFO)- Netherlands
Matching Mole- Netherlands
HIVOS- Netherlands
USA Embassy- Nairobi
British Council- Nairobi
Miscellaneous Donations