Nukanti Foundation

FOSTERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Nukanti means 'us'

Nukanti's founder Niousha Roshani with Colombian children during the early years of the organization.

Nukanti's founder Niousha Roshani with Colombian children during the early years of the organization.

Founded in 2009, Nukanti is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the social fabric in communities affected by conflict and poverty, using the arts & media, sports and education to engage and empower young people, especially women and girls. The 2013 recipient of Beyond Sport’s Sport for Conflict Resolution and a finalist for Peace and Sport’s 2013 NGO of the Year award, Nukanti is an international organization with headquarters in the USA, the UK and Colombia. Our current initiatives are located in Colombia and Morocco, and we have implemented past programs in Brazil, Haiti, Spain, and UK.

Nukanti, meaning ‘us’ in the Inga language, epitomizes the concept of a community and a shift from the individual to the collective, thus aims to foster community-building through empowering young leaders. Young people are both victims and perpetrators of the increasing violence in Latin America, so our programs look to reverse the trend from destruction to reconstruction, by engaging youth in the positive transformation of their communities. In the community, we come together to share knowledge and skills, and provide the necessary support to young people so they can transform themselves from subjects of conflict to agents of peace.

By investing in the empowerment of children, youth and women, we create the social fabric for a strong community and bring up new leaders who can work toward a better future for themselves, their families and their societies. Our programs aim to teach participants important life values and social skills, so they can overcome the numerous restraints of conflict-affected environments and take full advantage of the available opportunities.

Nukanti's community center in Cazucá, on the outskirts of Bogotá, built of recycled plastic bottles.

Nukanti's community center in Cazucá, on the outskirts of Bogotá, built of recycled plastic bottles.