Dear friends,

With the $13,146 you have helped us to raise since joining Global Giving, we have been able to provide job skills training for 82 youth in computers, tailoring and entrepreneurships. We've supported the completion of Global Giving micro-projects like building a new program centre that gives our youth a reprieve from the streets, and installing sanitary toilets for a community accustomed to sharing pit latrine amongst up to 30 people. We assisted those trainees interested in starting small business/self-employment with access to micro-credit loans from Uwezo Fund.  65% of those trained are directly employed and others are in self-employment. And every program participant has received HIV/AIDS education, testing and counseling.

However, we are still striving to raise the remaining $9,560 of our target, so we can train 160 more youth. We aim to purchase equipment and run a six month welding/metal fabrication skills training course. According to 2015  government report, Kenya's 47 counties are facing an acute shortage of qualified construction sector trades people, like electricians, masons, plumbers and welders.  Labour cost have climbed to 25% of total building costs, according to the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya.  To achieve the development goals in Vision 2030, Kenya will need to train 250,000 trade persons. In the meantime, we will use our small computer lab to deliver computer training, offering youth a highly employable skill.

Are you able to make a donation? With enough support, we will buy welding and metal fabrication machines and hire a trainer. Do you have access to old computers that would allow us to train dozens of new youth? Could you spare some time? SYSC relies heavily on volunteers to sustain its programs. There are many ways you can volunteer with us. We would welcome you as a skills trainer at our centre, in the areas of computers, music, fine arts, etc. We could also really use your help as a grant writer, advisor and fundraiser from where you live. We also value Friends of Shauri Yako, a group of people who are able to promote the work of SYSC through their networks, raising awareness and support for our work.

Lastly, we're pleased to let you know we will be partnering with Nyeri Micro Enterprises (Jua Kali) to start Youth Training Placements Pilot Project in 2016. This is an innovative pilot project that will place 12 youth for 3 months to gain training in shoe making and metal fabrication. With the goal of enabling self-employment, they will gain hands-on training in entrepreneurship, including how to sell the products they make.  SYSC needs to raise $2,310 to contribute tools and 2 grinding machines for trainees, work wear and support allowance. We are excited about the new opportunities and possibilities this partnership will create.

If you have ideas for us, or would like to volunteer, please reply to this email or contact Joe joseshauriyako@gmail.com.

Together we are making a difference.

With thanks to you and your families for your generosity.

 Dear friends and supporters,

Today Global Giving is matching a portion of every donation made to our projects. Shauri Yako Community Youth Support Cente is trying to raise $3000 to provide free family planning services, reproductive health information and condoms to youth living in the Shauri Yako and Manjengo slums for six months. Can we ask for your support or your help getting the word out? As a small charity funded entirely by individual supporters, we want more people to find out about our project.

Suggested Facebook Post:

Can you help or spread the word? Youth in the slums of Shauri Yako and Manajengo, Kenya are experiencing significant, growing rates of unplanned teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The HIV/AIDS rate is on the rise in youth 14 to 20. Significant problems like sexual abuse, prostitution as a means to earn an income are not uncommon and human trafficking is a reality. Yet there are no health service providers in Shauri Yako right now, and no health focused government or international aid support to our community.

With your help, local charity SYSC will introduce critical reproductive health care services for youth in these slums. 

Paste this and the code below in and Facebook will link to our project page:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.globalgiving.org/javascript/widget/widget.js">  { "projectids" : "20232", "ggtid" : "67A74D6183A92A5CFA3B7642B69B156C"  }  </script>

Suggested tweet if you use Twitter:

Small community charity in Kenya needs your help to deliver reproductive health education to you. Teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDs rates rising.

About our Project:

With the $3000 in support that we are raising, SYSC will:

• Help reduce the rates of sexual violence, sexually transmitted diseases and increase family planning
• Meet the right of youth to reproductive health services, so they may feel safer, empowered by information and make informed decisions
• Reduce gender-based discrimination and violence and improve human security

SYSC has made arrangements to partner with the Family Health Options Centre in Nyeri town, and will second an individual for the project’s six-month duration as a Health Educator. This individual will be responsible for:

• Providing twice monthly individual and group counselling at SYSC community centre
• Training volunteer peer-to-peer educators to lead outreach and the dissemination of condoms and printed educational materials within the community, including at schools, churches and local youth gatherings (note that mentors will be awarded a small honorarium to cover their expenses/opportunity costs of their time)
• Partnering with SYSC’s staff lead, who is a trained HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases outreach worker, to mobilize and facilitate community events:
• Two monthly community events at SYSC’s centre
• Additional organized events local schools and churches

Why will this Project be Successful?

• Because the project will tackle real and significant community problems that are otherwise going unaddressed
• Because the community has championed the project and is united around its success
• Because SYSC can build on its past experience and success providing reproductive health care services
• Because SYSC will partner with a local public health organization to increase the effectiveness of its efforts
• Because education initiatives can be built into SYSC’s existing programs to increase reach and impact

Thank you so much for your help.

Joe Mwai

Chair of the Board