By TWV Team
Canon Central and North Africa has partnered with Maono Africa, a grassroots organisation based in Dandora, Nairobi, to provide essential training in photography and filmmaking to underserved youth and young mothers through its Miraisha programme.
“Kenya is where Miraisha first came to life, and it continues to hold a special place in our hearts,” said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director of Canon Central and North Africa. “Our new partnership with Maono Africa is deeply aligned with the Miraisha vision – not only teaching skills but creating real, lasting impact in communities. These organisations are doing extraordinary work, and together we aim to inspire, train, and uplift the next generation of storytellers in Dandora and beyond.”
Through this collaboration, Canon and its community partners will deliver specialised training in visual storytelling, tailored to the unique needs and aspirations of each group.
Maono Africa, whose work spans sport and the arts, education and skills development, health and advocacy, will contribute to the same training modules while engaging a broader youth demographic through purpose-driven storytelling.
“At Maono Africa, our mission has always been to give young people the tools to reimagine their future. Storytelling through photography and film is one of the most powerful ways to do that. This partnership with Canon Miraisha allows us to not only train but also empower youth in Dandora to create stories that reflect their reality, resilience and aspirations,” said Kenneth Owili, Founder of Maono Africa.
The ongoing photography and filmmaking workshops, scheduled between August and October 2025, will combine in-person training sessions with virtual webinars. Participants will explore a wide range of modules covering the fundamentals of visual storytelling – from photography techniques, exposure, and composition, to key aspects of filmmaking such as shooting, screen direction, and practical assessments.
The Miraisha programme – its name drawn from a blend of Japanese and Swahili to reflect both Canon’s heritage and its commitment to Africa – has become a symbol of transformation. Since its inception in 2014, it has trained more than 7,000 aspiring creators across 11 African countries. Of these, over 650 participants have earned paid commissions, and more than 450 have had their work published, screened, or exhibited. By 2030, Miraisha aims to reach 10,000 participants, equipping them not only with technical skills but also with tangible career opportunities in the creative industry.
With over 33 successful partnerships across the region and 25 locally trained Canon instructors, Miraisha has always been about more than teaching – it is about creating futures. As the programme enters its second decade, partnerships such as this reaffirm Canon’s belief that the future of Africa’s creative industry lies not in foreign investment alone, but in the strength of local voices, visions and stories – ready to be told, captured and celebrated.
