Enhance (mental) health of 2,084 Kenyan youths

FINDING FUNDS FOR OUR NEW PROJECT
Anticipating the farewell of one of KAP's main donors (60% of our annual budget) per July 2026, KAP intensified its efforts of broadening its funding base. 
In doing so we were very grateful for our continued training on Resource Mobilisation by Mr. Willem Malaba & Ms. Namatsi Lukhoye. Participating in the March 2026 'Little by Little' Campaign was one of our activities, whilst encouraging donations by wellwishers locally and internationally, offering tailor-made services for re-imbursement fees, and finding new (inter)national donors.
We were truly happy with the wonderful donations we received, but also realised that we needed more time to realise the full funding amount for our new Unreached Youths project.
Remembering the good impact of our previous youths projects, we are ready to take this bull by the horns and continue our fundraising campaigns!

SUPPORTING ONGOING UNREACHED YOUTHS ACTIVITIES
Meanwhile our Unreached Youths projects funded by other well-wishers continued.  
As these are always in need of some complementary support by others, we gratefully used our GlobalGiving donations in support of our Unreached Youths refresher workshops and Sign Language Interpreter in the areas of Big Tree Meso Farm and Maridadi as well as for the community mobilisation activities for a new group in Wekhonye near Kiminini. GlobalGiving main contributions were in the areas of transport, community trainers (TOTs)- and staffs costs.
The cooperation with different donors and wellwishers made these activities possible!

KAP's NEW STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2031
Our new plan confirms that Kitale Community Advancement Programme (KAP) is a Community Education and Counselling Programme.

Its main concern is the promotion of mental health, resulting especially into safe behaviours / actions in the areas of violence/trauma and commUNITY peace; mental and spiritual alienation; HIV/AIDS and abuse of/addiction to alcohol or drugs - KAP's Thematic Areas.
          KAP considers these issues to be bound together in a vicious cycle, even a self-
          reinforcing downward spiral. 

KAP views behaviour change as the most essential strategy in overcoming these crises. To change attitudes and behaviours, people first of all have to deeply understand and come to terms with the reality of their lives, and to call forth their own inherent capacity to change. This is in the realm of mental health.

In its work with Vulnerable Youths KAP addresses 'Mental Alienation' (a psychological trauma-related matter) as the entry point to achieve impact in its thematic areas.  
MENTAL ALIENATION is a psychological and sociological state of feeling disconnected and involves a loss of meaning, belonging, and authentic connection, often leading to deep-seated feelings of worthlessness, powerlessness, or existential detachment. It is strongly related to the current sharp increase in Kenya of frequent school fires, sects and cults, suicides (attempts) and other expressions of disconnect and destructive behaviours, especially amongst young people.
          KAP’s Unreached Youths participants confirm enhanced mental and social well-being, much
          increased self-esteem, hope & purpose and meaningful social and health behaviour change

Upon refinding their mental well-being KAP recognises that its participants also refind their action-willingness to address the other related matters of addiction, HIV and violence in their lives.
The following shows how important this is:

Trans Nzoia County is one of Kenya’s leading hotspot for substance use, with a prevalence rate for alcohol abuse of 23.8%, of which 11.4% for illicit brew (National prevalence rate is 12.2%). Of all substance abuse 60% is alcohol, 25% bhang’ (cannabis) & 15% prescription drugs, with 20% increase in substance abuse cases from 2020 to 2025... Many youths, even children, are exposed, hooked and being used as traffickers... 68.8% of crime cases and public disorder in Trans Nzoia are tied to (illicit) brews...
          KAP has deeply educated thousands of beneficiaries, who show decreased dependency of
          alcohol & drugs, and 55% sobriety amongst its recovering addicted clients

In Kenya 74% of new adult HIV infections occur among Adolescents and Young People (AYP), with drastically high prevalence of 18.7% amongst injecting drugs users. Trans Nzoia County reports an alarming transmission rate of 13.1% of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), increasing new HIV infections, and widespread gender-based violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancies.
          KAP’s beneficiaries show reduced high-risk HIV behaviours from 46% to 16%

There is a vicious spiral of violence and other traumatic events, increasing cases of risk-taking behaviours, abuse, addiction and HIV/ sexually transmitted infections, weakened immune systems, and violence towards self and others.
          KAP’s beneficiaries attest to improved family/community relationships (89-94%) &
          improved conflict resolution skills (94%)

A STORY OF CHANGE BY A MARIDADI UNREACHED YOUTH PARTICIPANT 
(From 'KAP Programme Evaluation Report, February 2026', Case Story 3)
"I encountered KAP at a time when I was feeling lost in life. Life did not make much sense and I was feeling helpless. I was very thin and even my skin tone was off. I did not have hope and I was always angry.
          It was until when I was trained that I realized I had not processed the death of my mother. I had never let go and I was angry at everything. It was not just the death of my mother, we were victims of post-election violence and we have lived in poverty. Poverty and trauma of losing our home followed by the death of my mother really affected me.
          During engagements with KAP, we were taught about trauma healing process. This included how to share our stories. I was able to share my story with others. After sharing my story I felt something lift. Now I feel very okay and strong. Whatsoever challenge comes my way; I see it as passing or temporary
          After going through the training and group therapy sessions, I found life changing and becoming positive. Interestingly, I started gaining weight and people started noticing that I had become jovial.
          KAP has touched my life in a big way. By the time we were doing a refresher course my child was very ill. She was coughing and vomiting. I had used all manner of drugs without healing. On the last day of training, the teachers from KAP took her to hospital. Through KAP I was referred to the district hospital where many tests were done. A chest scan was done and the child was found with TB. KAP took care of all expenses and supported me until my child recovered
          I have been living a difficult life of struggle. Sometimes finding food is a challenge but KAP steps in and helps. Every now and then they call us and distribute food for us.
          In the past I used to see myself as a victim and I would sit down feeling pitiful and crying. Right now I am courageous. I feel strong and ready for anything that life will bring my way. My husband always jokes that without KAP he would already have buried me. We are working hard together.
          My only hope is that I can get an opportunity to advance my studies or training so that I can also do the good work that the KAP teachers are doing. I really desire to be like them. If I can work in that their office, I would like to be courageous like teacher ‘H’. I want to help people become strong, confident and courageous.
          Currently I help friends here and there. There are many people going through difficult situations. But I feel I need advanced training to be able to help further."

• Financial Report & Strategic Plan 2026-31 (PDF)