Education Kenya Project #7766

Build Skills with the "lost" Youth in Kenya

by Rafiki Ya Maisha

Project Report | Jun 1, 2018
First Graduation Ceremony in Chepkanga

By Claire Mathijsen | Project Leader

Graduation Invitation card

Dear Rafikis, dear faithful friends,

You can be as proud as parents! Last week, the Sergoek vocational training center in Chepkanga held a colorful and well attended FIRST ever graduation ceremony. One hundered and eleven second year graduates in cap & gown transformed the looks of the school on May 25, 2018.

The highest number of graduates were in Food & Nutrition, followed by those in Electrical studies. The principal was thrilled to announce that there were169 new registrations for the coming year. Today, this totals the enrollment at 247 trainees! We are making history!

The local government officials and policy makers have been actively recruting new students and promoting skills development in the county recently. The most convincing proof of this current enthusiasm and renewed support is the revitilization of the scholarship program. A reduced fee structure and greater access to technical education by the Deputy President of Kenya is helping to turn mentalities and beliefs around.The official focus now is on skills rather than theory.

You were the forerunners of this transformation: you can proudly feel that you have contributed to change the paradigm and open the road to human capital development in Kenya.

In Eldoret, the move away from farming to agroprocessing and manufacturing is plain to see. Progress is everywhere, in the new roads, the street lighting, the ban on plastic bags and when you speak to young men and women you get the sense that they are truly feeling the potential to transform their lives and the country.

Vision 2030 started along the little mud road in Chepkanga and it is growing strong. WIth a 115% increase in enrollments and a doubling of the number of diploma holders this year, the little vocational training center in Chepkanga is on the map.

Cheers to all,

Claire

1st Graduation in full regalia

Colorful rows of Students & Teachers

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Mar 6, 2018
From Nowhere to Somewhere

By claire Mathijsen | Project Leader

New Benina building

Dear friends,

We founded Rafiki Ya Maisha to provide vocational training to unemployed young people & women in need, who have no secondary education nor access to trade schools in rural Western Kenya. This forgotten group of youths can now acquire life skills through our college and Institute in Chepkanga and Koshin. These village empowerment institutions have components in IT, agribusiness, conservation, health, culture and various technical skills leading to manufacturing jobs. Our schools have become game changers.

After almost 18 years of perseverance and ownership through friendship with our Kenyan friends and government partners, we launched our new Intitution! February 20, 2018 was a proud day for all: Official opening of Koshin Technical Training Institute (KTTI), inauguration of the brand new school hall/multipurpose room with our sponsors from France and completion of the central school quadangle. The latest building is magnificent by all standards with it's stage, bright hall and wood panneled finishings. The generosity of the BENINA foundation made this possible.

50 new students, dancers, community leaders and a dynamic principal welcomed us to KTTI. The eventful day was attended by many local representatives, two governors, an ambassador, a senior government planner for technical education, a senator and others who came from Nairobi and from the area to celebrate with us. Uasin Gishu Gov. Jackson M. was our chief guest and project leader Claire M. gave the key note speech. There were 600+ happy guests and a national TV coverage.

The road passing in front of the school is in the process of being tarmacked thus enhancing accessibility to this institute in the middle of the rural fields around Eldoret.

In Chepkanga, a celebratory day complete with dances and political representatives got a huge new boost on the following day. The promise of two extra acres of land will allow the school to grow from 1 to 3 acres. We are now hoping to sponsor a new kitchen for the vocational training center. Many youths are feeling encouraged by the testimonies of those who have succeeded thanks to their training. Mission well accomplished!

Thank you all for participating in this worthwhile and uplifting cause. As Theresia, leader of the Koshin women's group proudly said: " from nowhere to somewhere". You can be proud too!

Claire Mathijsen

Multipurpose Hall 450 people

Sponsors and Governor inaugurate

Student dancers celebrate event

Officials and guests at opening ceremony

Red carpet for all please!

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Dec 7, 2017
Youth Buzz

By Claire Mathijsen | Project Leader

Youth leaders Ivy & Oliver

Dear friends,

The dynamic coming to life this year of the RAFIKI YOUTH GROUP in Chepkanga location is our main pride & joy. It's two leaders, Ivy and Oliver, have managed to register 30-40 motivated friends. They outlined their mission, their goals in an offfical Charter and registered as a non-profit with the Eldoret municipality. They intent to bring environemental awareness to the chldren of the area. They were given a small road side plot by the area chief to start a nursery. They are being advised in irrigation and marketing techniques by last year's star graduate. Their seedling sales will bring the neeed cash flow for their Club activities.

Our two schools, the vocational training center in Chepkanga and the Technical Training Institute in Koshin have both reached new heights. We close the year after a shortened academic year due to an unusually extended electoral process. This did not stop our school Boards from meeting nor did it prevent the governments, both local and national, to endow the schools with new equipment.

Chepkanga is a vocational training center with Catering as it's flagship course; Koshin stands out with a state of the art Electrical and Electronic course. Both schools have active headmasters, fully motivated to have their school reach the best levels for their students. They have chat groups with peer centers to share ideas and best practices.

We are very encouraged by what we have seen during our trips this year. We are also setting our sights on February 2018 with the official opening of Koshin TTI and the inauguration the newest BENINA builiding.

Thanks a million to all of you who encourage the rural youth to seek a more productive life. Best wishes for the New Year.

Claire

Youth Group meeting with Elizabeth & Claire

Mandasi doughnuts prepared by students

Claire, Principal & staff - Koshin school

Mentor Edwin & Claire - Chepkanga school

Koshin site visit with Architect & foreman

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