Diani, Kenya — Est. in progress
A creative home,
built to give assistance.
Auni Village is a studio, cafe, and creative residency on Kenya's coast — where film, art, and music train, employ, and empower the next generation of Kwale County.
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Swahili — noun
auni
/ˈɑː.uː.ni/
"to give assistance"
We started Auni Village with one belief: that creative expression is not a luxury — it's a form of assistance. In a region where literacy is low, art is discouraged, and traditional education is failing, we're building a space where film, art, and music become tools for dignity, income, and self-worth.
The Challenge
Kwale County is rich in talent, starved of opportunity.
The numbers tell a story that traditional schooling alone can't fix — and that creative work is uniquely positioned to change.
- 40%Literacy across Kwale County remains critically low.
- ↓Artistic expression is actively discouraged in most schools and homes.
- $Kenya's poverty rate stays high, even for those earning minimum wage.
- ↓Public schools post very low success and completion rates.
- !Youth face low self-esteem, and exposure to drug and alcohol abuse.
Traditional education is failing on every level — a new model is overdue.
87% of teachers link creative learning to positive cognitive outcomes.
The Solution
A creative space built for cross-pollination.
Auni Village gives people access, training, and a stage — then gets out of the way.
- 01Access and training in film, art, and music, for anyone willing to show up.
- 02Creative learning proven to lead to positive cognitive outcomes.
- 03A locally owned, locally run social enterprise — not an NGO outpost.
- 04Impact-driven films that teach through contextualised edutainment.
- 05Residencies that incubate and platform artistic expression.
In Action
What this looks like on the ground.
Film
Free Movie Screenings
Art
First-Time Painting
Music
Highlighting Local Bands
Studio & Cafe
Where the whole village meets.
We're combining everything we love — good food, good art, good company — into one creative melting pot. Film, photography, screenings, podcasts, concerts, and exhibitions all share the same roof.
Since Auni is a social enterprise, a share of every plate and every ticket sold goes back into training youth and creating opportunity.
We're located in Diani — voted Africa's best beach — fifteen minutes from Ukunda, on Kenya's south coast.
Film
Screenings, podcasts & production
Art
Workshops, exhibitions & residency
Music
Concerts & community stages
Cafe
A table for the whole community
Our Journey
Renovating this, into our dream.
This building → our vision
Now
Now
Vision
Vision
Vision
Vision
Vision
Get Involved
Come give assistance — in whatever form you can.
Whether that's a residency application, a studio visit, a donation, or a seat at the cafe — every bit builds toward the village we're renovating this into.