By Audrey Hazel | Fundraising Manager, Kenya
Dear valued supporters,
We hope this report finds you well and filled with the same optimism that has driven the success of Raising Futures Kenya's Seed of Hope training programme throughout the year.
We’re thrilled that the construction of the new Seed of Hope centre in Nairobi is progressing well and is expected to be completed by the end of December, 2023! Huge thanks to the donations which have made it possible for Raising Futures to dream big, and create this permanent, purpose-built Seed of Hope model training centre in Dagoretti slum, Nairobi.
This building is a symbol of our long-term investment in the lives of vulnerable young people in Kenya and marks an exciting new chapter for the Seed of Hope programme. Where classes run from shipping containers and temporary structures were limiting our capacity, we embarked on this initiative to change this, and we will now have improved teaching facilities, can expand our programme of training courses and empower 315 young people a year with vocational skills to become self-sufficient, and live free from poverty and exploitation.
"I'm proud to be part of Seed of Hope's growth. The new building represents a bright future for us and the community." Purity Mmbone, Entrepreneurship, Financial and Computer skills student, Seed of Hope Nairobi
Our new training centre, with 4 accessible classrooms and a new toilet block, will enable vulnerable young people aged 14-25 (75% girls) from low-income areas of Nairobi to access free skills training in: Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Fashion Design, Hair & Beauty (this will be a new course added), Business & Computer Skills. Students also receive free food, counselling, childcare vouchers and support to enable them to attend lessons and focus. This combined support enables graduates to secure employment or start a business, becoming self-reliant and able to support their families.
Next steps for the build
Once construction is complete, we will be busy furnishing and equipping the new classrooms and mechanics workshop. We will re-purpose and kit out the converted container classroom into a Buisness Hub to support graduates as they set up their own small businesses, with access to space, on-hand advice, tools and equipment as they save for their own and build up their client-base. We will also start working towards phase two of the build, as the approved plans include a second floor, so that we can expand further to support 600+ students per year within the next 2-5 years.
Seed of Hope programme reflections
Ahead of enrolments of new students for 2024, we look back on this year's achievements, and are inspired and full of gratitude. This year has been particularly impactful, with a total of 860 young lives touched through our Seed of Hope programme, 500 being girls. Notably, 83 of these girls are young mothers, reflecting our commitment to empowering women and fostering inclusivity. Following the completion of their training, our students are set to embark on supervised internships, providing them with practical experiences that complement their classroom learning. These internships play a pivotal role in preparing our students for future employment opportunities, a testament to the effectiveness of our holistic approach to education.
Recently, we celebrated graduations in Kitui and Muranga, and we are eagerly anticipating the Nairobi graduation scheduled for February next year, which will coincide with the exciting launch of the new building, symbolising not only the growth of our infrastructure but also our capacity to reach and educate even more young minds.
In a time of rising costs of living and news full of doom...you've continued to care and give hope. Your continued support has been instrumental in making all these achievements possible. As we reflect on the past year's successes, we are energised and motivated to continue our mission of transforming lives through education and empowerment.
Thank you for being an essential part of the Seed of Hope family.
With warmest wishes for the festive season and a bright new year ahead,
from Florence, Leela and Audrey and all at Raising Futures Kenya.
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