Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

In preparation to launching Secure Futures project that will focus on pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers, a group of boys and young men from various parts of the targeted areas who are close to the targeted participants converged for a one day workshop. The aim of the workshop was to engage boys and men who will implement supplementary activities that will positively influence pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers’ safety and security. The boys and young men will be involved in a parallel football-based program dubbed ‘Heshima’ (Respect) which aims to teach male partners (boyfriends, husbands) of pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers about positive masculinities, women’s rights, violence and child development.

 Secure Futures Training of Traininers' Workshop

With all systems geared to go, VAP female coaches went through an intensive 3 days training of trainers’ course on Secure Futures project. The trainings conducted by Women Win, one of VAP’s partners focused on utilizing girl-centered approaches, designing activities in safe sports spaces to increase the social impact support-life skills and livelihood opportunities to young moms. Through partnership with mom in balance, the project will strive to help expectant young mothers to keep fit, healthy and in shape during their pregnancy journey and those who have given birth to help them get back in shape during motherhood period.

   World Youth Day

VAP’s Employment +Entrepreneurship youth participants were amongst the youth invited by standard chartered bank at their headquarters to celebrate World Youth Skills Day on 20^th July. With over 200 youth both boys and girls from different schools across Nairobi in attendance, the youth were engaged in interactive sessions with staff mentors from the standard chartered bank. The bank’s staff shared life experiences as they trained participants on career planning, personal discipline and branding, financial savings amongst other topics.

Providing Medical Care

20 year old  Anita (on the left) who is now a nurse at mater hospital is the latest entrant of VAP’s  Achievers Club  (a group of participants who have been empowered both socially and economically).Anita has had a roller-coaster ride, since her first participation in the skillz mabeste HIV awareness program while in her primary school, and moved on to secondary school and participated in Skillz Mtaani HIV awareness program as well as Mrembo program, and finally after finishing her secondary school, she was enrolled into vocational training  under Employment Entrepreneurship project where she majored in nursing. “Am happy for participating in the social and economic programs that have really equipped me with the necessary life skills.” Said Anita.

My First Job

Fresh from the ‘Employment +Entrepreneurship Job Preparedness Boot Camp’ Natasha landed her first job with Hue Agency. Belonging to the 3^rd cohort of Employment + Entrepreneurship 2019 with focus on Information and Technology as her vocational training course, she also participated in the Business Plan competition supported by standard chartered bank and won herself a computer for her business and marketing research studies.” The teachings and skills displayed by various invited well established entrepreneurs and employers during the Employment +Entrepreneurship job preparedness boot camp was of great value and impact towards my career. Am economically ready to support myself” Said 21 years old Natasha.

All in the spirit of creating a society that is socially, economically, and healthy empowered which is the cornerstone of VAP’s programs, lot 3 of the ‘Employment +Entrepreneurship gathered for a 3 days work preparedness boot camp prior to their graduation. Attended by diverse established professionals from all the spheres of business and corporates, armed with cutting-edge information and speaker after speaker, including representatives from: standard chartered bank, VIVO company and Rotaract amongst others, participants were filled up various techniques. Amongst the skills that were taught included: CV writing, goal setting, personal branding, interviews, self-expression, personal skills etc.

 Career Awareness Forum

No sooner had the graduation of cohort 3 completed, than the career awareness for cohort 4 was conducted. Accompanied by their parents and guardians, various participants including youth with intellectual developmental disability were taken through the nitty- gritty of various vocational training courses of their choices by different professional experts from the partnering institutions. A couple of former VAP Achievers ‘Employment Entrepreneurship’ graduates who are currently working and some operating their own businesses were on board with testimonies that inspired the newly recruited cohort. “I have gone through all the social and economic program pieces of VAP and am comfortably living independently while supporting my siblings.” Said 22 years old Jacinta, a VAP Achiever.

New Vivo Employee

Fresh from participating in VAP’s life skills and Employment + Entrepreneurship projects, Judy got an internship opportunity with Vivo active wear, a Kenyan-based clothing retailer operating in major malls in Kenya. After a few months of internship dedication, exemplary performance and display of the tailoring course that she had undertaken, she impressed the management and finally landed a job placement with Vivo Active Wear Company.Judy now lives independently and can confidently support her siblings and her parents.