Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

With the covid-19 fog still engulfing the world, implementation of different programs within VAP have been forced to camouflage and adapt a new style of implementation while considering the safety of coaches and program participants. One of the changes taking place is the implementation of Goal program that targets girls where coaches have been reaching out to different communities around Nairobi distributing ‘Goal @Home Activity books’ while making phone call follow ups to collect feedbacks and provide girls with support where needed. Goal @Home activity book is an innovative book distributed to girls as a way of keep them to continue learning about Goal topics and stay active while at home. The book entails fun exercises that girls can do by themselves or with a group of friends or family members at home.

Sky is Not The Limit For Wangui

After going through Goal program and finally being integrated into Employment and Entrepreneurship project for a bakery course, 20 years old Wangui presented a business plan for her own business to a panel of judges that included successful business professionals. Being one of the best business plans, she received business startup kits and decided to start her business. Located in the community and outside her house, Wangui who is part of the savings scheme plans to expand her business by hiring a spacious place and expanding her bakery business.

Psycho social and Mental Support

Due to the rising numbers of cases occasioned by covid-19 pandemic including gender based violence, teen pregnancies, early marriages etc,VAP’s psycho social department has been ever busy providing  safe spaces for group counseling sessions to various girls and young women who are the most vulnerable in the community. Periodical site visits by VAP’s psycho social department with sizeable groups of girls and young women in different communities around Nairobi has been going on. Other interested participants and victims have been calling to seek counseling information and referrals through VAP’s toll free number. The partnership with local institutions including police stations, health centres and other like-minded organizations that champion the rights of women have been of great help in this pandemic season. “I have been once a victim of gender based violence, and these sessions have really made me strong and equipped. I now know where to seek help and i will be happy to share the same with information with any other woman who is experiencing gender based violence.” Said 24 years Wanjiku.

Revamping Affected Businesses

The aftermath of Covid-19 to many livelihoods started by participants who had graduated from VAP’s Employment+Entrepreneurship project has been of negative effect. To offer a platform of refuge and a moment to exhale as they rebuild their lives, VAP organized for a one day ‘Okoa Bizna (Save My Business) workshop with the aim of building a network platform for sharing experiences while providing cushioning and supportive environment for the participants with businesses that were affected by covid-19.Participants engaged each other with discussions including challenges and experiences of their businesses with seed grants issued to them to kick start their respective businesses with the end result of participants forming micro finance savings schemes where they can save money and get loans to support their businesses. “Am happy to receive a seed grant to revamp my second hand cloth selling businesses and the idea of starting a saving scheme will help us expand our businesses and cushion us from any other pandemic” Said 22 years old Walengi.

Business Training For Young Mothers

Fresh from their other life skills activity involvement, a bunch of 58 Secure Futures participants (Pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers) attended a two days business training conducted in their respective communities. Ready to venture into businesses, participants were taken into various trainings including; drafting of business proposals, knowledge on demand and supply of their products, calculating profit and loss amongst others. At the end of the trainings, participants were subjected to draft their own business plans and present it to a panel of judges that includes invited business professionals for vetting and awarding of business start-up kits to successful individuals.

With the New Year still on its baby steps, a group of new young mothers who graduated at the tail end of last year under the belt of ‘Secure Futures’ program were  enrolled into vocational training courses for Employment + Entrepreneurship opportunities. In attendance to provide quality guidance, clear pathways and information to the participants were professionals and tutors from the local partnering institutions, successful businessmen and women including representatives of different financial institutions that offer small loans to business oriented people. Participants enrolled in a variety of courses that included: cookery, pastry, braiding, fashion and design amongst others. “Am eager to learn and finish my pastry course and thereafter look for a small loan to open my business of preparing pastries. This way I will be able to support myself and my family of two kids.” Said 21 years old Aisha.

 A visit From Kenya Community Development Foundation

As part of their grassroot commitment to community development and capacity building of its partners, Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) paid a courtesy call to VAP’s offices. Accompanied with representatives from I&M bank foundation, the key purpose of the meeting was to learn, share knowledge, challenges and successes of the ongoing projects especially with the covid-19 fog. The meeting wrapped up with a ground visit to the participants’ areas of operations.KCDF supports communities to initiate and drive their development agenda by harnessing and growing their resources as well as securing their basic rights and services from duty bearers. It works with poor, marginalized and disadvantaged communities as its primary target group and looks to provide them support in uplifting themselves from their situation through their own efforts.

                       Gender Support

In support of their counter parts,15 male under ‘Heshima Program’, a program that brings together (boyfriends/husbands) of the ‘Secure Futures’ young mothers participants with an intention of addressing positive masculinity, parental support and leadership, attended a 3 days training program organized by VAP and other like-minded organizations. Amongst topics addressed were: social construction of masculinities and feminities, introduction to Heshima curriculum, sexual and gender based violence, cycle of violence, inequalities and violence, relationship to violence, prevention and response and strategy selection. Heshima program has been of great support towards positive impact of secure future program and its activities. “Am happy to be part of this program that has taught me on how to be supportive to my wife in a positive way. If something wrong happens between us, we always have a discussion around it and solve it without any kind of violence. I will use my skills to teach and encourage other young fathers to always be supportive to their wives and avoid gender based violence.” Said 21 years old  Aluda ,a young father of one kid.

                       Rebuilding Again

Three days business training for the covid-19 affected business participants under the ‘Ustawi’ initiative was organized by VAP and its partners. The training brought together young women, mostly young mothers who had graduated from various vocational training courses and started their own business but eventually got affected by the out-break of covid-19 and its restrictions. One after another, participants narrated how their respective businesses were affected and their ideas on how to bounce back. The trainings provided participants with a platform to network share and learn from each other as they also gained skills and knowledge on how to start and manage their livelihood activities. Participants were also guided on how to successfully develop their business plans as well as receiving psychosocial support.

                        Community StakeHolders Forum

As an organization that listens to its community and values its successes on its model which is community led from ‘Bottom to Top’ approach, a stakeholders meeting was held in the month of January. The one day meeting brought together program participants, parents, guardians, community coaches, community members. Like-minded organizations and government representatives as well as children office departments to talk about community challenges and successes. The meeting created a platform and a safe space for attendees to share, network and learn from each other as VAP collected views and opinions that would help reshape and redesign its programs.