Educate and Empower Street Children in Kenya

Dear Friends of the CYEC,

To learn about the joys and successes you made possible for children and youth at the CYEC in 2011, please see the attached Annual Report.  Your support had enabled them to further their education, have a healthy and safe home, and develop enterprises so they can live independently. We couldn't do this without you!

The next Global Giving bonus day is this Wednesday the 14th. All gifts are increased by 30%(!) and the organization receiving donations from the most supporters also receives $1,000 bonus so even small gifts make a big difference! Please give on Wednesday, and encourage your friends and family to do so too!

• 2011 Zawadi Fund International Annual Report (PDF)
  

In honor of your support of the Children & Youth Empowerment Centre in Kenya, we’ve composed a special version of The 12 Days of Christmas. We think even those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas will enjoy! 

 “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a plate of fresh veggies.” 

Youth at the CYEC work in the shamba (garden) to produce fresh fruits and vegetables for the centre’s kitchen.  Since July, they’ve been entirely self-sufficient in greens, a staple of the Kenyan diet and an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and K as well as iron!

 “On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me two children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

 Girls who have a savings account before puberty have significantly higher life-time earnings.  With ZFI support, the CYEC has implemented a child social and financial literacy program, Aflatoun (www.aflatoun.org). Researchers from the University of Nairobi and Penn State are assessing the program.

 “On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me three youth coming to the drop-in-center, two children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

Students from Kansas State University worked with the CYEC to establish a drop-in-center in Nyeri town to reach more vulnerable young people and connect with the local community. These youth work in the garden and have classes in lifeskills and arts.

“On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me four youth a sewing, three youth coming to the drop-in-center, two children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

Girls ready to leave the centre sew shoulder bags to generate income and savings.  Friends across the US help sell the bags.

 “On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five pieces of e-waste art, four youth a sewing, three youth coming to the drop-in-center, two children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

Students from Penn State Berks and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology are partnering with the CYEC to design and develop jewelry and art made from electronic waste – benefiting the environment and helping the youth! See http://ewasteatpsu.wordpress.com/

“On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six teens a studying, five pieces of e-waste art, four youth a sewing, three youth coming to the drop-in-center, two children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

 Public education in Kenya is free through 8^th grade, but secondary schools charge tuition.  Local and international ZFI sponsors support CYEC youth as they further their education. We expect to have more secondary students this year, thanks to their hard work!

 “On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

 While we’re celebrating the Christmas spirit, the CYEC embraces children from all religions and ethnic groups in Kenya. Sports, art, and an environmental club to help CYEC kids develop their creativity and self-awareness and have fun!

 “On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 8 young entrepreneurs, 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

Penn State ag and business students partnered with youth in the cooperative to develop record-keeping skills and identify potential for growth in their agricultural production enterprises. They’re now selling their produce to the CYEC and local markets. (see: http://pennstateinkenya2011.weebly.com/index.html)

“On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 9 children breakfasting, 8 young entrepreneurs, 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

ZFI donors ensure CYEC children have a healthy breakfast before school 2 days a week.  Your support also provides medical and educational supplies and clothing.

 “On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 10 youth a borrowing, 9 children breakfasting, 8 young entrepreneurs, 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

A ZFI donor has created a micro-finance fund youth in the cooperative can use to finance expansion or creation of a small enterprise.  Youth participated in a financial literacy program sponsored by the Equity Bank Foundation to learn the basics of money management.

“On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 11 goats a frolicking, 10 youth a borrowing, 9 children breakfasting, 8 young entrepreneurs, 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

 Dairy goats produce milk for the young children at the Centre (and occasionally get into the shamba!). Youth are starting to produce hay to feed them in the dry season and sell to neighboring farms.

“On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 youth succeeding, 11 goats a frolicking, 10 youth a borrowing, 9 children breakfasting, 8 young entrepreneurs, 7 children playing, 6 teens a studying, 5 pieces of e-waste art, 4 youth a sewing, 3 youth coming to the drop-in-center, 2 children saving and a plate of fresh veggies.”

The goal of the CYEC is to develop the potential of these children & youth so they can lead happy, productive lives. Your support helps us meet this goal!

Happy New Year!

Since August, primary aged children at the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre have been participating in the Aflatoun program.  Aflatoun empowers children to make positive changes in their lives by helping them develop self awareness and encouraging them to plan, while older children in the program learn to save and develop basic entrepreneurial skills.  Activities in the curriculum include crafts, music and games, so children have fun while they're learning!

Your support makes this possible! This Wednesday, 19 October, is a Global Giving Bonus Day, meaning your gift will be increased by 30%!  In addition, GlobalGiving is giving $1,000 to the organization that raises the most money - every gift helps!  This is a great opportunity to make your support go further!

Since June, the Children and Youth Empowerment Centre has been partnering with the Nyeri YMCA to establish a new drop in centre for street-dwelling Nyeri youth.  This drop in centre enables us to reach more vulnerable young people and connect with the local community.  The YMCA is conveniently located near downtown Nyeri and has some agricultural land, making it an ideal location.

CYEC staff and volunteers operate the drop-in centre from 8.30 a.m. through 4.30 p.m., and the youth work in the shamba (fields) in the morning and have arts programming and life skills development in the afternoon.  The program started with five youth, and has now grown to 12 youth who come on a daily basis with another five to six who come occasionally. 

Your support helps us with this outreach effort!  We send a big thank you to the Kansas State students who worked with us in June and July to get the drop-in centre off the ground!

Students from Penn State have just completed three life-changing weeks working at the CYEC, while Kansas State students have started their two months at the Centre.  The Penn State students were involved in a number of projects: working with the youth in the youth cooperative as they develop their agriculture production and business skills (http://pennstateinkenya2011.weebly.com/class-blog.html), teaching the youth to turn computer waste into jewelry (http://ewasteatpsu.wordpress.com/) and testing a life skills curriculum (http://kenya-believe.blogspot.com/).  These projects are all geared to help the youth develop the skills (both personal and professional) they’ll need to lead independent lives.

The Kansas State students are primarily working at the CYEC drop-in centre, running programs in arts and agriculture.  They’re also helping with the pre-school program, tutoring and extra-curricular activities at the Centre (http://web.me.com/aberke/Kupenda_Kenya/Welcome.html). 

As you’ll see when you browse the students’ blogs, they learn and grow through their experience there, and the relationships formed between the US students and the CYEC children and youth enrich them all.  While the students bring a great deal of enthusiasm and expertise to their work with the CYEC, the funds to implement their projects at the Centre come from supporters such as you!  Your funds help as they buy arts materials, build rabbit hutches and construct new goat pens.  This Wednesday, 15 June, is a Bonus Day on Global Giving, so your gift then will be worth an additional 30%! Please give what you can!