Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

An additional gear with the tag ‘Breaking The Barriers,’ under the Employment and Entrepreneurship track  was launched on 30^th 2018.Breaking The Barriers which is a flip side of the  on-going vocational training courses focuses on girls and young women with an aim of breaking the glass ceiling of sports related careers that are male dominated. During the launch that took place at Jericho social hall attended by star-studded women  and men speakers who included: retired first Kenyan football and FIFA women referee,former Kenya football women’s coach, representatives from Kenya’s national sports organizations,  renowned coaches  and managers from different sports clubs and sports management specialists from Moi university, participants received information surrounding the challenges and success of their anticipated sports careers that would include: football coaching,refeering,sports management, fitness and well-being,Physchology and paramedics.

                        Goal Achievers Ceremony

The 3^rd cohort of Employment and Entrepreneurship project were feted at the standard chartered bank’s headquarters in Wetlands. The team which graduated from their five months vocational training courses received mentoring sessions from the local staff of the standard chartered bank before their graduation ceremony which was also attended by representatives of YETU initiative who have been part of the Employment and Entrepreneurship project. All the graduates received certificates for their respective courses that ranged from: pastry and baking, Beauty, Braiding, Fashion and Design, IT, Tailoring, Photography. Additionally, graduates who had submitted their business start-up proposals also received business start-up kits to boost their businesses.

                               Photography Champions

Four girls from Kenya emerged winners of the ‘Goal Girls’ photo challenge that involved 15 girls from Zambia, UK and Kenya. The photo challenge aimed at supporting Goal girls’ economic empowerment by promoting Standard Chartered valued behaviors: Do the right thing, Never Settle, and Better Together. The winners were awarded with monetary award that would go towards realizing their photography careers. “Am happy to have won and am looking forward to enhance my photography course even as I give back to the community through football that has been my springboard.” Said 16 years old Rebecca.

                Female Football Coaching Course

A total of 25 female coaches going through the theoretical part of ‘Breaking The Barriers’ football coaching course. Football coaching course for girls and young women is amongst the five sports related courses that aims at removing the sticky stains and the stereotype that has been created by the mainstream society in regards providing sports related careers to girls and women. Both for football coaching and refereeing courses, VAP has teamed up with Football Federation Kenya, Nairobi branch to facilitate quality trainings to the participants who want to pursue football based careers. Similarly VAP will partner with other relevant bodies to facilitate other sports career trainings to other participants who choose to pursue other interests that would follow in sequence.

"First and foremost,i want to express my utmost THANK YOU note to each and everyone of you for going out of your way by donating to this worthy cause.Your generous contribution towards this project has seen alot of lives of young people being transformed day in,day out.Indeed,through football,we have witnessed a great number of youth coming from various underpriviledged backgrounds in the slums of Nairobi both in schools and community centres participating actively in lifeskills programs.Through succesful graduations from football based social programs,they have been integrated into various vocational training courses of their own choices ranging from;pastry,catering,hair and beauty,interior design,IT,tailoring, etc hence transforming them to become economically independent.

It's with this regard that Vijana Amani Pamoja (VAP) is joining Global Giving to celebrate youth week starting this 6th-12th August 2018.To make it more colourful,Gobal Giving is matching all new donations set up before the end of this week (12th) by 100%.Your donation as always will continue to change the lives of these girls  and the youth in general.Once again,THANK YOU SO MUCH for your continous support as we change the lives together." Said Nancy,Manager

Testimonies

"Here at VAP we do not have limited time,we have a whole day and safe space where we can ask questions and discuss." Said 16 year old Christine.
"Here everyone has a chance to express herself.Everyone is encourage to try and give opinion.We are given the chance to interact and encourage each other."Said 16 years old Mwikali.