Build Skills with the "lost" Youth in Kenya

Dear Friends,

The second quarter of the year has been vibrant and fulfilling at both Sergoek Vocational Training Centre (SVTC) and Koshin Technical Training Institute (KTTI). Students and staff have actively engaged in academic, sporting, and community-centered activities that promote holistic learning and skill development.

At SVTC, we proudly crowned our new Mr. and Miss Sergoek during a spirited celebration. Meanwhile, KTTI’s athletes made us proud by bringing home gold and silver medals at the inaugural Koshin Open Tournament. SVTC also hosted a dynamic Students’ Cultural Week, which concluded with a colorful and entertaining Fashion Show that showcased student creativity and innovation. Notably, students presented a robotic waste recycling machine — an exciting step aligned with our environmental conservation goals.

On the academic front, teams from both institutions visited Kenya Medical Training College in Eldoret for a benchmarking exercise aimed at guiding the rollout of our upcoming nursing aide course. This initiative will also support the establishment of on-campus clinics to provide essential healthcare services to surrounding communities. In a similar spirit of growth, KTTI’s Deputy Principals for Administration and Academics visited Loyola High School in Tanzania to learn best practices in school administration.

To recognize our dedicated staff, Sergoek organized a team-building retreat to Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria. The unwavering commitment of our educators continues to shape the futures of our students — including over 5,000 graduates, such as five plumbers now working in Qatar, a testament to the quality and impact of our training programs.

We are also proud to celebrate three Koshin alumni in electrical engineering who played a key role in installing a 50KW solar power system — one of the largest in Uasin Gishu County — contributing to sustainable energy solutions in the region.

In conclusion, we are pleased with the achievements and inspiring milestones of this quarter. As we move forward, we remain committed to building on this momentum and achieving even greater success in the months ahead.

Thank you for your continued and invaluable support.
Asante Sana! (Thank you very much in Swahili)

Warm regards,
Gabriel and Claire

Dear Rafikis,

The first quarter of 2025 has been incredibly productive for our institutions with tremendous growth, an increase in student enrollment as well as a rise in the number of new academic and support staff. KTTI alone enrolled 462 new students from the underserved West Pokot region in a single intake. There is a total of 1825 trainees in our schools at the moment.

Our institutions continue to collaborate with local industry players to offer industrial attachments and internships for our students. This partnership has significantly enhanced the quality of education and hands-on experience our students receive.

We are proud of the many success stories from our alumni. Outstanding alumni include Enoch M.,a former masonery student, now head of a construction company, who successfully completed several projects and created over 40 jobs for fellow youth. Another inspiring example is Grace K., an agriculture graduate, who successfully set up a poultry farm and sells 1500 chicks every week. Stories like these reinforce our mission of equipping young people in rural Kenya with the skills they need to build a life as they reduce unemployment, strife and poverty.

Additionally, all academic staff have successfully completed mandatory training in Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). This training emphasizes a personalized learning approach where students progress at their own pace, ensuring they demonstrate full mastery of skills before advancing. This model promotes equity and excellence in education.

Novelties: (1) A 1-year Nurse's Aid and Caregiver course started in September is attracting a high number of trainees (2) A welding department trainee demonstrated an ingenious barbecue flip grill (3) Students in talent show entertain their peers in a well attended event.

Developments: The new administration block at Sergoek is nearing completion and proparing for the first building to rely entirely on solar energy. It's roof will be covered with panels that will provide electricity for the whole school.

Lastly, we were honored to host members/donors of Rafiki Ya Maisha International from Europe for an inspection visit. They were pleased with the progress and programs at both institutions. Their visit was also a great source of motivation for our students, who continue to benefit from the generosity and support of our donors.

Thank you for your continued support, which enables us to develop and grow these institutions for the betterment of our communities. Kongoi Mising (Thank You in Kalenjin)!