Olympic Sustainable Development Center

Olympic Sustainable Development Center

OSDC is a grassroots nonprofit in Kibera, one of Africa's largest informal settlements. Through storytelling, photography, and community-led tours, OSDC aims to transform how the world sees Kibera—shifting the narrative from one of poverty and pity to one of creativity, resilience, and local leadership.

Challenge

Kibera has long been the subject of well-intentioned international development projects, media coverage, and academic research. However, many of these stories have been told and shaped by outsiders: expatriates, tourists and Western historians. For many around the world, Kibera is defined by poverty and dysfunction—not by the people who live, work, and build lives there.

Even within Kenya, Kibera is often misunderstood or stigmatized. Many residents are excluded from opportunities in education, employment, and public life. Local initiatives struggle to gain visibility or funding compared to better-resourced, expatriate-led programs.

Solution

OSDC was founded by Jeremy Onyango, a Kibera-born documentary photographer and storyteller. Based in the Olympic neighborhood of Kibera, OSDC:

Operates resident-led guided tours of Kibera, to educate visitors and generate income for OSDC and partner initiatives
Uses proceeds from tours and future donations to fund nonprofits and social enterprises operating in Kibera
Starting in 2026: As a central element of OSDC tours, curates and hosts a community gallery in Kibera that showcases powerful, humanizing stories of people and organizations creating change

The gallery will be free for all visitors. It is designed to serve as a space for pride, dialogue, and connection for Kibera’s residents, and for guests from across Nairobi and around the world.

Website

Founded in

2024

Annual budget of

$0 (2025)

Sites in

Kibera, Kenya

Last update: 2025

Impact

OSDC is volunteer-run and in its early stages of development, and therefore has not yet begun distributing funds. It has run 20+ tours since October 2024, recruited local partners, and begun generating photo/interview features. In 2026, OSDC aims to open a gallery space in Kibera and begin distributing funds to partner initiatives.

To make this vision a reality, OSDC is seeking $4,000 in seed funding to cover space preparation, exhibition setup, and tour design. In the next few years, OSDC aims to become a trusted local representative that generates visibility and $10,000+ in funding per year for effective, community-rooted organizations in Kibera.

Looking forward

For too long, the stories of Kibera have been told by outsiders. The Olympic Sustainable Development Center changes that—offering a narrative grounded in dignity, agency, and pride. OSDC is a locally founded, community-anchored effort to reclaim narrative power, generate sustainable funding, and uplift the people and organizations driving change from within.

By investing in OSDC, funders support not just one nonprofit, but a growing ecosystem of grassroots change-makers working within Kibera. To join a tour, message OSDC's Instagram page.

Jeremy Onyango, Founder

Jeremy Onyango is a documentary photographer and visual storyteller born and raised in Kibera, Nairobi. His work focuses on capturing the everyday lives, strength, and complexity of a community often misunderstood and misrepresented.

He began photographing life in Kibera as a child, inspired by the resilience and hope he saw around him. His images challenge stereotypes and elevate voices from within the community—blending history, emotion, and cultural identity to create space for empathy and pride.

In 2024, he founded the Olympic Sustainable Development Center (OSDC) to bring this mission to life. Jeremy also volunteers regularly with local organizations to better understand their work and deepen his knowledge of grassroots impact, and to gauge their effectiveness and impact before partnering with them through OSDC. These experiences inform his storytelling and reinforce his commitment to using photography as a tool for change.

Jeremy’s vision is to use photography as a bridge, connecting people across cultures and inspiring more just, inclusive, and sustainable futures.

Patricia
Tour participant

"Return to Kibra is everything that is good in this world. Doing the walking tour was an awesome experience! Jeremy was such a kind, passionate, and knowledgeable guide. He made sure to answer all or questions and share more about his passion for his community. I love being part of and supporting local community initiatives that give a platform for marginalized people to tell their stories, and this tour does it in a way that is inspiring and appreciative of the art. There are some very talented people in Kibra and I would recommend this tour to anyone in Nairobi looking to experience Kibra through art and personal stories of the community members. It’s so important to give space and support grassroots projects that tell the stories of the communities from within."

Nadia Abdalla
Tour participant

"When you hear Kibera, you might think of political chaos and disruptions. But during our tour, we discovered a side of Kibera that doesn't make the news--a community filled with vibrant art, thriving local businesses, and people radiating warmth and resilience. We felt safe, welcomed with love, and inspired by the beauty and creativity around every corner. This tour opened our eyes to the heart of Kibera, and we urge you to experience for yourself."

Vice Versa Global
Tour participant

Vice Versa Global is an East African news and media platform.

"Kibera, one of Africa's most well-known and densely populated informal settlements, is often portrayed as a place of unrelenting hardship--a community locked in poverty, devoid of opportunity. The media frequently highlights its challenges, but rarely captures the full spectrum of life here. While the struggles are real, so too are the resilience, innovation, and vibrant human spirit that define Kibera...Through his lens, Jeremiah captures the human experience often overlooked--giving voice to those in the margins and reclaiming the narrative of his community."

Jeremy received his camera in November 2023 as a donation from an Instagram follower on his photography account. He captures photos of Kibera residents while volunteering with Kibera-based nonprofits, as part of photography projects in collaboration with local organizations, and in his own life as a Kibera resident himself.

Jeremy specializes in portraiture and documentary-style composition. His aims not to speak for Kibera’s residents, but to co-create images that reflect how they wish to be seen.

His images invite viewers to slow down and see the fullness of people’s lives—on their own terms. This gallery is a curated look into his ongoing journey to document everyday life in his home community.