Bright colors jump out at you when you walk through Mbare. These colorful paintings cover dull, flat buildings and tell stories about hope and strength. Each brush stroke shows how the neighborhood fights against drugs. Young Isaac, who left school at 17, loves these wall paintings and talks about them with great energy.
Isaac warns visitors about dangers in the area but says they can feel safe because local kids know them. He explains the meaning behind the art. At first, no one understood what the pictures meant. After learning from the artists, people started to care about these paintings. The community protects this artwork because it matters to them.
Oliver Olembe Vellem runs this project. At 31 years old, he has spent almost twenty years making Mbare better. He leads nine young people who want to help stop drug use and stealing. The team painted Matapi Flats, Block 8, with bright colors that make people feel good. Each color stands for something important to the community.
Red brings energy and courage. Blue makes people feel calm and safe. Orange adds warmth. Lime green shows care for everyone. Gray offers stability. White gives hope. Navy blue adds class. These colors come together to create beautiful messages about fighting drug problems. Vellem wants to fix up all 58 broken-down buildings in Mbare.
His team spent nine months fixing Block 8 of Matapi. This building has 101 rooms where more than a hundred families live. They pay for everything themselves but want companies to help them continue their work. Beyond just making art, they actively help people struggling with drug addiction. Brighton Kamwendo, nicknamed Buju, used crystal meth but joined their team.
Buju volunteers at their fish farming project near Mukuvisi rivers. The team gives him support to recover from drugs. Vellem talked with Buju about getting help through community programs. Buju admits quitting drugs feels very hard. He tries to convince others to stop using. He says people often turn to drugs because of family problems.
Gogo Maruoma raises eleven grandchildren and appreciates what the project has done. She likes the new computer lab where neighborhood kids can spend time safely. She believes police must keep working hard to stop drug dealers. Drug problems remain serious in Mbare. Nobody seems to know where young people find these substances.
Art therapy helps many addicted people express feelings they cannot put into words. Creating art lets them explore emotions, understand their addiction, and learn better ways to handle stress. The Mbare Renewal Projects team hopes drug use will drop significantly by 2030. They combine artwork with community action to build a better future without drugs.
Research shows drug addiction affects millions worldwide. These problems reach far beyond just the person using drugs. Families suffer. Neighborhoods change. Society pays a price. The Mbare project shows how communities can fight back against these challenges through creativity and teamwork.
Isaac warns visitors about dangers in the area but says they can feel safe because local kids know them. He explains the meaning behind the art. At first, no one understood what the pictures meant. After learning from the artists, people started to care about these paintings. The community protects this artwork because it matters to them.
Oliver Olembe Vellem runs this project. At 31 years old, he has spent almost twenty years making Mbare better. He leads nine young people who want to help stop drug use and stealing. The team painted Matapi Flats, Block 8, with bright colors that make people feel good. Each color stands for something important to the community.
Red brings energy and courage. Blue makes people feel calm and safe. Orange adds warmth. Lime green shows care for everyone. Gray offers stability. White gives hope. Navy blue adds class. These colors come together to create beautiful messages about fighting drug problems. Vellem wants to fix up all 58 broken-down buildings in Mbare.
His team spent nine months fixing Block 8 of Matapi. This building has 101 rooms where more than a hundred families live. They pay for everything themselves but want companies to help them continue their work. Beyond just making art, they actively help people struggling with drug addiction. Brighton Kamwendo, nicknamed Buju, used crystal meth but joined their team.
Buju volunteers at their fish farming project near Mukuvisi rivers. The team gives him support to recover from drugs. Vellem talked with Buju about getting help through community programs. Buju admits quitting drugs feels very hard. He tries to convince others to stop using. He says people often turn to drugs because of family problems.
Gogo Maruoma raises eleven grandchildren and appreciates what the project has done. She likes the new computer lab where neighborhood kids can spend time safely. She believes police must keep working hard to stop drug dealers. Drug problems remain serious in Mbare. Nobody seems to know where young people find these substances.
Art therapy helps many addicted people express feelings they cannot put into words. Creating art lets them explore emotions, understand their addiction, and learn better ways to handle stress. The Mbare Renewal Projects team hopes drug use will drop significantly by 2030. They combine artwork with community action to build a better future without drugs.
Research shows drug addiction affects millions worldwide. These problems reach far beyond just the person using drugs. Families suffer. Neighborhoods change. Society pays a price. The Mbare project shows how communities can fight back against these challenges through creativity and teamwork.
