Over 1,000 girls have graduated from Seed of Hope's training program which has been offering dignity, opportunity and hope to disadvantaged teenage girls in Kenya since 2002. These are girls who missed a secondary education due to poverty. Our program trains them in vocational skills, enterprise skills and life skills for two years then supports them to set up small businesses ensuring they can live successful and happy adult lives making a positive impact on their families and communities.
Up to 80% of Kenyan girls don't have the opportunity to attend secondary school, exposing them to risks such as child marriage, prostitution, abuse and extreme poverty. This impacts on their self-esteem as well as their earning potential which traps them in the cycle of poverty experienced by their families. For many girls in these situations the future is about surviving day by day, dependent on others. Seed of Hope equips girls for independent, happy, financially secure futures.
Seed of Hope nurtures girls to fulfill their potential through 2 years of training and counseling. Working in groups of 3-5 girls, graduates are supported to set up businesses as a step towards independence. Each business is a 3 way partnership between Seed of Hope, graduates and their families. Our studies show that approx. 82% of our graduates earn above minimum wage and 69% are able to provide for their own needs without having to rely on exploitative relationships or undignified activities.
As we work in partnership with our graduates and their families to set up small businesses they can start to break the cycle of poverty. A high number of our graduates invest in the primary and secondary education of their siblings. Our graduates often train other girls in their community who are unable to go to school. As the girls start to have families of their own, they can cater for their needs and pay for their education through proceeds from their business.
