VAP is seeking support to construct a youth-friendly centre on recently purchased land in Nairobi which will provide training, safe space, clinical services, and psycho-social support to young people when they need it most. In addition to football pitches, the VAP Youth Empowerment Centre will have a library, gender-based violence recovery centre, volunteer accommodation, and vocational training centre. The centre will be a social enterprise, bringing in revenue for sustainability.
VAP currently operates its programs in different communities across Nairobi where youth are the majority of the participants and had lost either one or both parents to HIV, and may be exposed to or involved in alcohol and drug abuse, unhealthy behaviors, negative peer pressure, and violence. Gender-based violence is on the rise, particularly during the lockdowns of COVID-19. Girls who experience violence are at higher risk of disease, depression, as well as suffering socially and economically.
The Youth Empowerment Centre will provide a safe space for Nairobi's young people and ensure sustainability of VAP's programmes. The Centre will have space for several key initiatives and services that young people need: health skills education, vocational training, gender-based violence treatment and support, health screening services (including HIV testing and counseling, cervical screening); and a library for educational support.
The long term impact of building the VAP Centre for Youth Empowerment will be that young people in the greater Nairobi community will have a safe place where they know they can seek care, support, and mentorship. It will be a source of community pride and wellbeing. The Centre will also generate resources for the community by hosting corporate retreats, supporting income generating projects by youth, and providing accommodation for visitors.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
