After a long spell of holiday season and working with the community centres and hosting our first ever Anti-corruption soccer tournament at Mcedo primary school,VAP's Anti-corruption crusaders switched the program into schools. Currently we are working with 3 primary schools within Nairobi targeting to graduate 300 students in the next 4 months of the program. At the beginning of the program, the school teachers and students were a little bit skeptical in believing how football can be used to fight corruption device that has been an unhealing wound within the Kenyan society. After going through the basic activities and introduction of the program, the participants started to learn the concept of the program and its anti-corruption messages slowly by slowly. The participants respond in being involved in the program has been massive and positive as the program entails football fun based activities. The show corruption 'red card' program is conducted primarily as an after school program and it fits so well in the school learning system during the extra-curricular activity times.VAP's 2013 goal is to graduate 1000 participants and equip them with messages of high values of integrity and good leadership.
A grand total of $1,563 was raised for the Mrembo Girls Program last month during the Girl Effect GlobalGiving Challenge!
Whilst we did not receive contributions from enough unique donors to be one of the six challenge winners, we have raised enough money to significantly scale up our work with girls in Nairobi’s slums.
First and foremost, we now have enough money to expand the project into the field of economic empowerment. From January, we will be training two adolescent girls at our hair and beauty salon which was opened last May to help raise money for the project.
By gaining a skill, these girls will ultimately be able to provide for themselves and their families, give their children an education and avoid the kind of desperation which forces many young girls into prostitution or abusive relationships.
In addition, we will be able to;
I’ll continue to keep you updated on the Mrembo Girls Program as, I’m sure you will agree, 2013 is set to be an exciting year for the project.
41 young people received free HIV testing at VAP’s third reproductive health tournament in partnership with GOAL Kenya.
The event in Korogocho - one of Nairobi’s largest slums where residents have very limited access to healthcare - targeted young mothers from the local community. 36 were screened for cervical cancer wth a further nine benefiting from free family planning. De-worming tablets were also provided to 250 young children.
African women must be involved in national politics
The fourth annual Feminist Leadership and Movement Building Institute (FLAMBI) Conference was held in Nairobi from 5-9 November 2012 and was attended by VAP’s Program Director, Nancy Warweru.
The course, designed to strengthen feminist leadership, strategies and collective power for social transformation in Africa, attracted representatives from over 10 East African organisations.
Nancy Warweru, commented on her experience at the conference; “It is clear that women are faced with a myriad of glass ceilings including cultural stereotypes and religious beliefs.
"For African women to successfully address female rights, it is paramount that they actively participate in decision making at the national level. As an organisation, advocacy is now an area we are committed to expanding into.”
Gabriel Tito VAP's peer educator was selected to represent Kenya at theYouth Development Football (YDF) conference on the Impact Of Football For Development. It was held from 7 - 9 November in Soweto, Johannesburg South Africa under the theme Leaving Footprints In Africa.
The main purpose of the event was for youth leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia to share their experiences on the impact that football for development programmes have had on their lives.
The workshop, at the NIKE Football Training Centre, centred on three main topics of gender equality, HIV/AIDS and violence prevention. "We also attended a press briefing and I even got the chance to meet the 2011 South African National Team head coach, Pitso Mosimane"said Tito.
During the World's Aids day, 41 young people received free HIV testing at VAP’s third reproductive health tournament in partnership with GOAL Kenya.
The event in Korogocho - one of Nairobi’s largest slums where residents have very limited access to healthcare - targeted young mothers from the local community. 36 were screened for cervical cancer wth a further nine benefiting from free family planning. De-worming tablets were also provided to 250 young children
For Granted-sponsored staff graduate with flying colours
Peer educators David Odour and Edwin Ochieng have both successfully completed diplomas in TV & Video Production at the East African School of Media, Nairobi. Their two-year academic programmes were funded by For Granted, an organisation which supports children and young people academically in underserved communities.
Throughout their studies, David and Edwin continued to volunteer at VAP and together, armed with their new skills, now head up the organisation’s media department.
For Granted is planning to sponsor two additional peer educators to fulfil their academic dreams. VAP is extremely grateful for their continued support.
Holiday Graduations
As from November 29th,VAP's skillz Kenya program shifted from schools to community centres where a total of 124 participants aged 12-18 years both boys and girls managed to graduate from the program.
Egmont Trust Approves funding VAP for the next 2 years
After a successful 2 year funding from Egmont Trust,VAP's new funding request from Egmont Trust for the next 2 years has been approved. The funding that starts in January 2013 will enable VAP to continue scaling up its Skillz Kenya programs in schools and community centres around Nairobi."We are extremely delighted with the continued partnership with Egmont Trust.As VAP we are ever more than ready to deliver our HIV/AIDS interventions in our communities.Also i would like to thank each and every single donor who has been partnering with us either finacially or materially."Said Nancy Waweru,the program Director.
Egmont, a UK charitable trust, was founded in 2005 as a partnership between senior individuals in the financial services sector in London and New York, and professionals with significant experience of HIV & AIDS in Africa.
