Build Skills with the "lost" Youth in Kenya

Jambo Rafikis,

The year has begun on a high note with our continued partnership with Great Being A Girl. The organization recently visited our institutions to educate girls and young women on health and hygiene through their “Ending Period Poverty Once and for All” program. We are encouraged by the positive outcomes of this collaboration and look forward to future engagements.

The dedication and consistency of our institutions, Koshin Technical Training Institute, KTTI and Sergoek, continue to bear fruit, as reflected in the steady increase in student enrollment. Our commitment to empowering our girls is clearly yielding results, as demonstrated by the growing number of young women enrolling at our institutions. At Sergoek, with a total student population of 640, there are 414 female and 226 male students. At Koshin, 72 female and 49 male new students enrolled this quarter, bringing the current student population to 2057. Recently, Koshin has introduced a new program that recognizes individuals without formal education but with practical experience—such as plumbers and construction workers— allowing them to be assessed and then awarded a Certificate of Prior Learning. 

Since the inception of RYM and the establishment of our schools, we have continued to witness inspiring success stories from our alumni. From children uplifting their families from poverty, qualified plumbers (from Kenya) working in Qatar,  to engineers running their own construction companies, our graduates are making remarkable progress. One recent example is Mr. Denis K., a former electrical student at KTTI, who is now an entrepreneur and employer managing his own electrical business. Such success stories motivate us to continue providing vocational training and education to young people in rural Kenya, thereby reducing unemployment, conflict, and poverty in the region.

The much-anticipated completion of the new Administration Block at Sergoek Vocational Training Center (SVTC) has been achieved. The building will house several administrative offices, a state-of-the-art computer laboratory, and a modern library designed to support students in developing their IT and AI skills as well as enhancing their research capacity. This new facility stands as an iconic development in the region — the first of its kind in design and the only building in the area fully powered by green energy, marking a significant milestone in advancing our climate change agenda.

In conclusion, we remain committed to sustaining this positive momentum throughout the year. We sincerely thank all our donors and partners and friends of Rafiki Ya Maisha.

Thank you very much.

Claire Mathijsen and Gabriel Teimuge

Jambo Rafiki, 

We are delighted to share that this has been one of the most successful quarters for our institutions - a period filled with growth, collaboration, and inspiration. From record-breaking student admissions to the establishment of new and impactful partnerships, our journey continues to demonstrate what is possible when dedication meets purpose.

This success is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to empowering youth through education and skills training, and to creating opportunities that transform lives and communities. As Seroek Vocational Traning Center (SVTC) and Koshin Technical Training  Institiute (KTTI) continue to thrive, we remain focused on nurturing a generation of confident, skilled, and self-reliant young individuals who will lead change and drive progress in Kenya and beyond.

This quarter, KTTI recorded the highest number of new learners in our history - a clear reflection of our shared dedication to youth empowerment and education. Koshin Technical Training Institute (KTTI) alone now boasts a record number of enrolled students - 1,948 students, up from 429 just three years ago. This remarkable growth demonstrates the continued success of Rafiki Ya Maisha’s mission to equip young people in rural Kenya with skills that reduce unemployment, poverty, and social challenges.

We are also proud to announce our new partnership with the Great Being a Girl Organization, a collaboration that will educate, empower, and inspire our female students to thrive both academically and personally.

In addition, we celebrate Koshin’s outstanding performance in sending students to represent us at the National TVET Fairs in Mombasa, following their well-deserved victory at the regional level in Baringo County.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to GlobalGiving Organization and all our Rafikis (Friends) who have continued to support our vision and efforts in transforming lives through education and skills training. Your partnership and generosity make it possible for us to create lasting impact and empower communities for a brighter future.

Kongoi (Thank You).

Warm Regards,

Gabriel Teimuge.