By Florence Olwenge | Seed of Hope Centre Manager
Hello our eminent supporter,
With your support, our Seed of Hope vocational training programme has given opportunities to many young people to develop skills to empower themselves and overcome real challenges and obstacles. In this first quarter of 2023, we have enrolled 447 students, out of which 62% are female, and 51 are young mothers.
The efforts undertaken by Seed of Hope through your support has made tremendous progress in terms of bridging the gap of accessing training. The areas we work in are often characterised by poverty, high level of unemployment and limited access to training opportunities. These young people are eager to pursue training at Seed of Hope and improve their prospects of having a successful future.
Seed of Hope continues to adapt to the changing needs of the students and has developed strategies for enrollment which include developing strong community partnerships, enhancing marketing and outreach efforts, offering students (particularly young mothers) flexible schedules, and student safeguarding just to mention a few. As a result of implementing these strategies, the enrollment rate at Seed of Hope continues to grow.
Learning activities at Seed of Hope centres are designed to help the students acquire knowledge skills and attitudes that are essential for their personal and professional development. The curriculum has been tailor-made to engage students as best as possible, and to actively provide opportunities for them to apply their knowledge and skills in real life situations. By cooperating in a variety of learning activities, the centres have created a dynamic and interactive learning environment that promotes student learning and success.
The Young mothers support programme at Seed of Hope provides essential support and resources which helps to address the unique challenges that young mothers face. During the first quarter of the year, 312 childcare vouchers have been provided alongside offering young mothers part time classes and flexibility, which helps them to balance their training commitments with their parenting responsibilities.
The Mentorship programme at Seed of Hope, is led by successful graduates, who visit the centres frequently to help current students set and achieve their goals, to navigate the challenges in life and during and beyond their training, and share their success stories as a way of encouraging and motivating them.
Entrepreneurship and Financial literacy sessions are taken by all the students in the centre, as well as being offered as a stand-alone short course, to ensure that all the students are equipped with the knowledge to set up their own businesses where employment opportunities are scarce.
Menstrual hygiene education and provision of 662 packs of period pads this past quarter has helped female students to manage their periods with dignity and ease, without interruption in their studies. Sexual and reproductive health lessons are also undertaken to enable students to understand their bodies, their rights, to promote their wellbeing, and be alert to changes in their bodies.
Counselling and Group counselling support programmes are a valuable resource for the students who are facing personal or academic challenges. The programme provides a safe and supportive space where students can share their experiences, learn from each other and receive guidance from a trained professional. The programme takes into account the dynamics of group counselling and provides appropriate guidelines for participation. The programme also provides follow up support to students who may need additional assistance through individual counselling, and referrals to a professional counsellor. This quarter we have provided 17,633 group counselling sessions and 1,169 individual counselling sessions.
The Rice programme was introduced in a Seed of Hope centre in Kitui county, in 2021. Students have been receiving rice every Friday in order to cushion them from harsh effects of the drought and hunger in the area, especially over weekends when they cannot access the lunch programme at the centre.
Thank you for being part of empowering young people at Seed of Hope and improving their prospects for a successful future.
If you would like to reach out to us or have any questions, please contact us at hello@seedofhopekenya.org
Huge thanks and best wishes from the Raising Futures Kenya team
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