By Florence Olwenge | Programme Manager
Dear friends and valued supporters,
As we enter the final months of this calendar year, we are delighted to update you on our project activities and impacts creating safe futures for Kenyan girls through vocational training.
In 2024 so far, we’ve supported 1,019 students including 628 girls across our 3 Seed of Hope training centres in areas of high need in Kenya. 1 in 4 of those young women are young mothers, with children under the age of 3.
Young mothers want to learn too and shouldn’t miss out on opportunities for training or education. So the training we provide, with your support, has proudly provided 156 young mothers this year alone with childcare vouchers to engage in learning and gain the skills to build self-reliant futures for themselves and their children.
As current student and young mother Martha described her experience: "I want to become one of the best electricians in my area. My parents were surprised when I told them I am taking the Electrical Wiring & Installation course. As a young mother in a male-dominated field, I have found a true sense of belonging without needing to change who I am. Anything is possible!"
We track the impact of our training with graduates at 6, 12 and 18-months beyond completion of their course. The results show that 75% of our graduates secure employment or start their own businesses within 6 months, and almost 70% are earning above the national poverty line. We are so proud of their successes.
Climate shocks and rising inflation in Kenya have deepened our commitment to equipping more young people, particularly girls, with entrepreneurial skills to break cycles of poverty. This is what the team in Kenya sees every day at our Seed of Hope centres, knowing that when opportunity meets passion, there's no limits to what can be achieved!
Having created a new permanent building in Dagoretti slum, where class sizes had outgrown our temporary structures, we now have space for more students and additional courses. On the newly launched Hairdressing & Beauty course, the girls in the class radiate confidence, and the boys enthusiastically apply makeup on their classmates, creating a joyful and collaborative atmosphere. The transformation in these students is much more than just skin-deep - each now has the confidence, capacity and skills to follow their dreams!
In increasing our reach, we are training other educational institutions in our successful holistic approach. Afterall, what use is expertise if we keep it to ourselves? We are absolutely passionate about sharing best practice and learning, so this year we have trained 13 other vocational institutes and schools in our distinct model and our sexual and reproductive health and mental health curriculum.
This month, we observed the International Day of the Girl Child, and reflected on the fact that whilst poverty and exploitation disproportionately affect girls and young women, we remain committed to levelling the playing field. Thank you for supporting us in equipping girls with opportunities to gain skills and qualifications in an environment that provides the unique support they might need, including free period pads, child care vouchers and counselling.
“Thank you for investing in my training, I'll be able to learn, grow and make the most out of this opportunity!" - Sarah, student at Seed of Hope Nairobi, 2024
Despite being a small charity, we are having a big impact in Kenya, working to improve educational opportunities for young people from under-resourced communities, at scale. We absolutely could not do this without YOU! Thank you so much for supporting girls in Kenya.
While we’re here, we wanted to make you aware of an incredible opportunity this #GivingTuesday, when GlobalGiving is boosting your donations to the nonprofits of your choice. For 24 hours on Dec 3rd (from midnight to 11:59pm EST) donations up to $1,800 will get matchedto DOUBLE the impact of your gift!
If you think a friend, family member or colleague would be interested in our work, and the opportunity to make their money go further on Dec 3rd, please do share this. As a grassroots organisation, every conversation counts!
Thank you. We greatly appreciate you!
Every best wish,
Florence and the Raising Futures Kenya team
By Florence Olwenge | Project Lead
By Florence Olwenge & Leela Shanti | Seed of Hope Centre Manager
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