Paukwa? Pakawa!
Paukwa is a place dedicated to positive stories about Kenya. Our story house is named for the Swahili word that is an invitation to a story – Paukwa. It’s an age- old term, well known across East Africa. Paukwa invites one to remember the joy of stories from their childhood days and to get lost in new, familiar or unknown ideas about the daily things that surround us.
Each day ordinary Kenyans are pushing our nation forward. As volunteers, as SME owners, as creatives, teachers, farmers, counsellors, techwizards and more. There is a bigger story as they build our nation each day through their tenacity, hard work, positive attitude, search for excellence, and sheer hustle.
Through their efforts we all grow.
At Paukwa, we shine a spotlight on the everyday builders of our nation and the history we almost forgot.
This digital storybank celebrates memory, culture, modernity, but most of all, the positive. Dive in and discover a story of Kenya you didn’t know you never knew!
#OurGreenHeroes
June every year people around the world come together to raise awareness on and celebrate environmental action. World Environment Day for us is an opportunity to spotlight the various Kenyans who have adopted the hummingbird spirit and through their daily efforts are working towards ensuring the environment is protected for future generations.[uncode_index el_id="index-578519" loop="size:30|order_by:date|post_type:page|by_id:11988,16606,16599,16588,16575,16570,16554,16547,16542,12037,10580,10527|taxonomy_count:10" screen_lg="1000" screen_md="600" screen_sm="480" gutter_size="3" single_width="3" images_size="one-one" single_shape="round" radius="xl" single_overlay_opacity="50" single_overlay_anim="no" single_text_anim="no" single_image_anim="no" single_h_align="center"
Paukwa? Pakawa!
Paukwa is a place dedicated to positive stories about Kenya. Our story house is named for the Swahili word that is an invitation to a story – Paukwa. It’s an age- old term, well known across East Africa. Paukwa invites one to remember the joy of stories from their childhood days and to get lost in new, familiar or unknown ideas about the daily things that surround us.
Each day ordinary Kenyans are pushing our nation forward. As volunteers, as SME owners, as creatives, teachers, farmers, counsellors, techwizards and more. There is a bigger story as they build our nation each day through their tenacity, hard work, positive attitude, search for excellence, and sheer hustle.
Through their efforts we all grow.
At Paukwa, we shine a spotlight on the everyday builders of our nation and the history we almost forgot.
This digital storybank celebrates memory, culture, modernity, but most of all, the positive. Dive in and discover a story of Kenya you didn’t know you never knew!
#MagazetiYetu
Kenya’s earliest newspaper was established in 1902, a time before the country’s name was conceived, and when the region was still a protectorate. Nonetheless, the realities of colonialism were already setting in. With time, a resistance emerged. As some Kenyans took up arms to fight for freedom, others wielded pens, sharpening their words into weapons of knowledge. The latter contributed to the popularity of newspapers as tools used by
Remember the story of...
Who Will Catch Us If We Fall?
Faith Linyonyi tells us about her favourite #KeRead - an urban fiction by Iman Verjee Who Will Catch Us As We Fall is a story that shows the lives of a few Kenyans within the political context of national elections. Given their social backgrounds and personalities, we get to see the battles they choose to fight and the misfortunes they encounter along the way. It's always a super proud moment for me...
Our audio stories
A note from our team
THE POWER OF STORIES
At Team Paukwa, we never tire of celebrating the power of stories. It is the very essence of our mission and the fuel that drives our work. We firmly believe in the transformative impact of storytelling for social change. Moreover, we take great joy in spotlighting the creatives who are actively reshaping the narrative of Kenya through their storytelling prowess. These individuals are catalysts for change, weaving tales that challenge stereotypes, elevate unheard voices, and ignite conversations that matter. We're excited to delve into our treasure trove of stories—our vault—that showcases their journeys and contributions. From budding writers to seasoned filmmakers, each story reflects the profound impact of storytelling in driving positive change. Eager to learn more? Check out the stories that Kenyan creatives have produced in #KeFilms, #KePodcasts and #KeReads.
TEAM PAUKWA
A note from our team
WOMEN WE ARE INSPIRED BY
Celebrating the achievements of women in all spheres has been one of our key focuses. The word celebrate comes from the Latin word celebrare meaning to assemble and honour. Gathering is core to the etymology of the word celebration. It means celebrating women must include meaningfully cultivating spaces to acknowledge and honour each other. The poignancy of this kind of fellowship has not been lost on us. At Paukwa, it has meant reflecting on journeys of that show the complexity of life that is so fulfilling when one stays the course. The awe-inspiring tenacity and unbridled excellence of Kenyan women quite simply demand celebration as we have shown in out collection of #KeFemaleFirsts. We commit to holding space to recognise, embrace and speak life from the phenomenal women that inspire us.
TEAM PAUKWA
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