Helping young Kenyans survive and thrive in Kisumu

Thank you so much for your support for Paluoc carpentry workshop in Kenya. It is with regret that from January we will no longer be sending funds to this project. Sadly, Paluoc has struggled to recruit and retain trainees and there are currently so few attending regularly that we are left with no choice.

Some hope was offered through a new government policy aiming at 100% transition to high school in Kenya. In addition, through another initiative, young people will be granted a small bursary in order to access training programmes offering technical skills. Paluoc applied to become a government approved partner for this programme, but unfortunately they were unsuccessful.

Despite challenges, Paluoc has nonetheless achieved various successes over the years in large part thanks to the tireless support of Nigel and other volunteers and thanks also to your constant support. Whilst numbers of trainees have never been as high as initially hoped, many young people have benefitted enormously from the project. They have enjoyed being part of a team, they have developed skills, confidence and networks and gained qualifications and ultimately they have been able to build sustainable livelihoods. Thank you for the part you have played in making this happen.

Centre manager, Paul Ochieng, will continue to run the workshop and support the remaining trainees. HATW will maintain contact with the project and an open door for partnership working if they are able to turn things around and bring in some new trainees.

We would be incredibly grateful if you would consider continuing to support the work of HATW. For example, we partner with a vocational training centre in Zambia, Kaliyangile, which offers training in beekeeping, carpentry, tailoring, knitting, computing and literacy and also runs an agricultural programme to generate income for the project.

Thank you once again for all your support.

Bridget