About Us
DADSAC was born from an encounter and a shared desire: to offer a future to the youth of Dandora through sport, education, and community.
We Are in Dandora, Kenya
DADSAC operates from Nairobi, near the Dandora dumpsite, infamous as East Africa's largest landfill. This area is synonymous with pollution, corruption, and precarious living conditions, presenting major challenges for local youth: child labor, drug addiction, crime.
Watch a short report from RTS (Swiss Radio Television) about the situation in Dandora:
Watch the RTS VideoIn Switzerland
The Swiss DADSAC team is responsible for fundraising, strategy, and executive support. We strive to raise the necessary funds to sustain activities in Kenya while ensuring full transparency in our management.
Main Responsibilities:
- Fundraising and donor relations.
- Coordination of activities between different partners.
- Strategic and administrative support.
Our Team:
- Oskar Crettenand: Co-founder and Executive Committee member.
- Viktor Crettenand: Treasurer and Executive Committee member.
- Amin Torrisi: Vice-President and Web Manager.
In Kenya
The Kenyan team is the heart of DADSAC, directly involved in implementing activities and providing daily guidance to the youth.
Main Responsibilities:
- Organizing sports, artistic, and educational activities.
- Supporting youth in their personal and professional development.
- Managing local infrastructure and community liaison.
Our Team:
- John Kirai Gitau: Co-founder and Field Expert.
- Ritah Njeri: Social Worker.
John's Key Role in the Community
John Kirai Gitau has been a member of the Dandora community since childhood. Now nearly 50 years old and a father of four, he embodies true resilience and commitment. As co-founder of DADSAC, he pays special attention to mentoring the youth in an environment he knows intimately. He is not only a mentor to these young people but also a trusted figure for the parents, whom he knows personally.
John understands the importance of creating a safe and caring environment for children and strives to work hand-in-hand with families. Including parents in their children's journey is crucial for us, whenever possible, to strengthen community engagement and ensure consistent support for each young person. His deep knowledge of the community and his role as a local leader are invaluable assets to the success of our initiatives.
Our Vision & Approach
Our Vision
At DADSAC, we believe in a future where every young person in Dandora can flourish and actively participate in building a strong, united, and self-reliant community. We want to offer a sustainable alternative to poverty, delinquency, and community divisions.
Our Approach (inspired by When Helping Hurts)
We rely on key principles for sustainable and respectful impact:
- Act with humility: Value local skills rather than imposing external solutions.
- Rebuild broken relationships: Address poverty in all its dimensions (material, relational, spiritual).
- Foster self-reliance: Encourage the use of local resources and networks.
- Differentiate interventions: Adapt aid (relief, rehabilitation, development) to actual needs.
To truly help, we believe it is essential to reflect on the impact of our actions, actively listen to beneficiaries, and respect their knowledge and realities.