By Mary Mwangi and Florence Olwenge | Operations Director and Programme Manager
Dear our valued supporter,
We at Raising Futures Kenya just wanted to say a huge thank you for your continued support of our ‘Safe Futures for girls in Kenya’ project implemented through our Seed of Hope programme, and to share some updates for our 2023 enrolment with you.
The future of girls living in informal settlements, like Dagoretti and rural areas where we work, can be challenging as they often face greater barriers to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities than girls in more affluent areas. They are also more vulnerable to violence and exploitation, including child marriage and trafficking.
With your support, our Seed of Hope programme has given opportunities for these girls to develop vocational skills in fashion and fabric design, motor vehicle mechanics, Hair and Beauty, Catering and Hospitality courses as well as gain skills in entrepreneurship and computer skills to empower themselves to overcome real challenges and obstacles.
It has also provided the girls from informal settlement areas with a safe space as well as access to other basic support services and protection mechanisms such as mental health and counselling, reproductive health training and monthly menstrual health packs, childcare vouchers for the young mothers, free hot daily lunches, lifeskills training amongst other most needed support. This has provided them a conducive environment to enable them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and succeed in life in future.
In January 2023, we enrolled 263 girls to be trained between January and June for the vocational skills with more being enrolled after every 7 weeks for training in Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Computer skills as a stand alone short course for those that do not want to do the vocational courses. Out of the 263 girls enrolled by January, 51 of them are young mothers benefitting with monthly childcare vouchers to enable them get care for their children as they do their training.
Once they graduate from Seed of hope, they use the skills and knowledge gained to gain meaningful employment or set up their own businesses such as dressmaking shops, hair and beauty salons, cake making and other small businesses. They are able to uplift themselves economically and become fully independent, no longer having to rely on others. Not only are they able to fully support themselves but also their family (elderly parents, younger siblings, and sick family relatives). And young mothers are able to cover costs for their children, for daycare, and invest in themselves!
Ultimately, Seed of Hope's efforts of empowering girls in informal and rural settlements has involved a multi-faceted approach that addresses the many factors that contribute to their vulnerability and lack of opportunity. By investing in their education, health, wellbeing, economic prospects, and providing them with strong role models and mentors, it has helped these girls build brighter futures and become self-reliant adults.
Thank You for being part of this success and change in the lives of these vulnerable young mothers and girls!
With best wishes,
Mary and Flo (Kenya) and Leela (UK)
By Kirsty Erridge | CEO
By Florence Olwenge and Kirsty Erridge | Seed of Hope Manager and CEO
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