Referred to as "Amka" (which means "rise up" in Swahili), this program provides social support and life skill development to vulnerable young women from the Kibera Slum in Kenya, as they make the transition from high school to "life."
After finishing high school, many young women from the informal settlements (slums) in Kenya face tough challenges because they lack basic life skills such as self-awareness, stress management, interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and decision-making, required to help them navigate this new stage in their lives. As a result, the girls are often left quite vulnerable to their environment, resulting in early marriage, pregnancy and drug and alcohol abuse.
The program consists of Weekly Life Skills Sessions, Monthly Learning Activities, Service Projects, Daily Challenges and Individual Projects; all designed to both help support skill development and instill and reinforce the behaviors needed to successfully navigate adulthood. Upon completion of the 9-month program, each graduate receives a contribution towards ongoing employment training in areas such as cooking, hairdressing and agriculture.
With a foundation of core life skills gained through the program, the ability of the young women to navigate their circumstances will be improved. As a result, they will be better positioned as they transition to adulthood to be fully contributing members of their communities, with the potential to rise out of poverty.
