Safe futures - self-reliance for 675 Kenyan girls

Seed of Hope Centre will soon be counted as one of the best vocational institutions in Kenya. This can be attributed by the quality of courses being offered, resources available and the increased number of girls being enrolled each year to undertake different training courses across the four centres. In 2016 the number of girls who enrolled in various courses has increased from 191 in 2015 to 236. Previously there have been challenges within our communities in giving girls equal opportunities in education but the Seed of Hope community outreach has resulted in parents now determined to release their girls to our centres to acquire skills as they are now aware about the programs and the positive impact it has brought in their community.

Seed of Hope has continued to empower the young girls through its program by giving them hope, dignity and the opportunity to have a better life in future. There are positive impacts that have been seen throughout the years from the time that Seed of Hope centres were established and the courses being offered have benefited many who came in with only the primary school certificate but after going through the training, they not only graduate with a certificateheir course of study but they learn other skills such as business enterprise, life skills. The establishment of empowerment clubs has enabled the girls to develop their confidence and equips them with knowledge that will ensure they have equal opportunity in all aspects of life. Through mentorship, the girls are taught to stand for what is right and to believe in themselves so that they can face any challenges that come their way as they complete their courses and either start their business or join the job market.

Vision Africa has adopted the Sustainable Development Goals and has not only integrated these goals to fit in its vision 'to give a child a future' but ensured that Seed of Hope centres work towards achieving these goals so that the girls who join their program are empowered to participate at all level of decision making in political, economic and social life. There are several ways through which the girls are being empowered. One is through the Amuka Program which is two week program that is  designed to help the newly enrolled students develop self-awareness, build their self-confidence and helps them to explore their purpose whilst developing core values.  There is also the Empowerment club sessions where by the girls learnifferent topic each month from different facilitators but also meet some of the successful young entrepreneurs who become their mentors. In the month of February, a group of actors from a local comedy aired in one of Kenya's TV stations visited the Nairobi Seed of Hope. They spoke to the girls about nurturing of talents and how they can combine both the skills they have acquired from Seed of Hope and the special talents they have to earn a living and become independent. The girls were also encouraged to invest in profitable business by making sure that their business plans attract any investors but also enables them to benefit from the National Youth Fund that is being offered to young entrepreneurs.

 Last but not the least, the girls had the opportunity to engage in beneficiary participation training whereby they learned about their role as beneficiaries in making decisions, contributions, giving ideas of how to improve the project. Many of them shared their sentiments after the training. Eunice a first year Student in Hair Dressing and beauty in Seed of Hope Kitui had this to say after the training “I have always wanted to share some ideas of how to make our course more interesting but I never had the courage to tell the teacher because I was not sure she will agree but today I have learned that it is importance for me to contribute in this project because the decisions that are made to improve the project that affect both me and my fellow students.”

Everline a Second year student from Nairobi had this to say “This training would not have come at a better time than this. I have always thought that it is only the teachers who are supposed make decisions regarding the courses being offered, feeding program and other activities that take place here at Seed of Hope. I am glad to know that my voice too can be heard if I share my concern with the Administration at Seed of Hope”

Apart from the beneficiary participation training, the girls formed a beneficiary council called Vision Africa Young Leaders Council. This council acts as representative body through which the girls in all the four centres become involved in the affairs of the project, working in partnership with management board and staff for the benefit of all parties involved within Seed of Hope. The Council also helps to share beneficiaries’ ideas, interests, and concerns with the administration as well as Vision Africa team. We are looking forward to more engagement with the girls as their opinion counts regarding the improvement and development of Seed of Hope.

The girls took their participation a notch higher as they played an important role during the fundraising campaign called ‘Haba na Haba’ in support of quality education and training for all children and youth who are supported through Vision Africa. The campaign is ongoing and each Seed of Hope Centre is carrying out its fundraising events to achieve their set targets. 

We believe that these girls have the potential to become independent and have a brighter future. They also have potential to raise the living standards of their families and create positive impact wherever they go. We believe that through their participation in project activities, Seed of Hope will continue to grow from strength to strength and reach out to many young girls who have equal opportunity to improve their lives through quality education and training. We thank everyone who has continued to support the work at Seed of Hope because it is through your generous giving that this program had significant impacthe lives of many girls who were once hopeless.  

Neddy a first year student from Seed of Hope Kisii had this to say to: “I thank everyone who has been supporting this program because Seed of Hope has helped me to realize the real potential in me and I can make a difference from the life I lived yesterday. I now realize that the skills I have acquired is a gift in my hand which will bring the Impact of Seed of Hope in my community”