Emergency COVID-19 support for Kenyan children

Hello to our wonderful supporters,

Thank you so much for standing by us and the vulnerable young people we work with in Kenya. As youth unemployment skyrocketed in recent years, drought and rising costs of living have added to pushing the most vulnerable to be at greater risk. With your support, we have been able to provide food, essential items, training and support to ensure the young people, particularly girls, in the low-income communities we work alongside are safe.

At our Seed Of Hope training centre in Kitui, we introduced an emergency food distribution programme in November 2021 in response to the severe ongoing drought, which still continues today as the drought situation continues to bite. The students have been receiving food packs fortnightly to cushion them from the harsh effects of the drought and hunger in the area especially during the weekend where they do not access the free lunch program at school. Amongst recent upgrades to our Seed of Hope centres to improve the learning environment and library resources, we’ve constructed a water pan (a small 16*9 metres dam) in Kariti to boost irrigation farming to grow crops for the free lunches we provide and generate some income from surplus. 

Our Seed Of Hope training programme has continued to attract young mothers who are vulnerable and seek vocational skills that can be used to support themselves and their families. We currently have 44 young mothers enrolled who receive childcare vouchers every month to help with the daycare of their children which ensures they do not miss classes and complete their training. It has been evident in their class scores as more often young mothers are the ones leading in class work excellence!

We have run some exciting events recently including a Mentorship Day at Kitui - this was an important day for 25 successful graduates to share their stories for the current students to realise that there is always hope no matter how the story started. Students asked questions and were guided on how to get the best out of their training and transition into work beyond their courses. 

We also had an academic day combined with a financial literacy training day for parents held at Seed of Hope centres. Parents met with the teachers and students to showcase the students' skills, projects, and achievements. This followed with training that will help parents plan finances at home, and support students once they graduate and set up their own businesses. Prospective students, parents, and the community also had the opportunity to come along and learn more about the courses offered and interact with the students and staff. 

With growing demand for our training and wrap-around support, we are continually looking for ways to expand our reach, support more students and maximise impact. We are excited to announce that in July we will be beginning a project to replace our temporary buildings in Nairobi with a brand new permanent centre which will allow us to enhance our facilities and accommodate more students, providing greater opportunities for growth and development.

Moving forward, we remain committed to creating a safe, secure and happy learning environment and further enhancing the quality of our programs and services. We will continue to assess and improve our offerings to ensure that Seed of Hope Training Centre remains a beacon of excellence in education and support for our students.

Thank you for all your support in all we do,

Florence and the Raising Futures Kenya Team