Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

For the last couple of weeks since the official partnership with Kenya Community Development foundation (KCDF), VAP has been engaged in a vigorous local fundraising campaign with a target of raising Kes, 400,000 (USD 40,000) before 15th June. The target would result into receiving a matching fund of Kes, 1,600,000 (USD 16,000) from KCDF that would be channeled into supporting VAP’s youth who are enrolled in ’Employment +Entrepreneurship’project.It’s now official that VAP reached the target and would like to express its utmost THANK YOU note to all the supporters, friends, and volunteers from every corner of this world who charged up this fundraising drive.The funding will go towards supporting and recruiting more girls into 'Employment +Entrepreneurship' project that will see participants taking up various vocational training courses of their choice.

 VAP At Women Deliver Confernce 2019

The city of Vancouver came to a standstill when it played host to 2019 women deliver conference. Being the world’s   largest gathering on gender equality and the health, rights, and well-being of girls and women, it brought together world leaders including: presidents, influencers, innovators and change-makers who made each main stage plenary sessions memorable and provocative. Officially opened by Canadian Prime Minister , all attendees were engaged in empowerment dialogues that drive girls and women agenda forward into the 21^st century.

 VAP Trains With Mom In Balance

With every piece put together in readiness for the official launch of Secure Futures project,VAP female coaches received a one day training activities and guidelines that would be integrated into Secure Futures project.The trainings focused on how to help expectant young mothers to keep fit,healthy and in shape during their pregnanacy journey and those who have given birth to help them get back in shape during their motherhood journey.Mom In Balance will be working closely with VAP for the success of Secure Futures project whose aim is to utilize girl-centred

After the completion of door to door mapping and data collection from young moms in different slum areas of Nairobi, young moms who were interviewed got an invitation to attend program design workshop to dive deep, share knowledge and opinions that would shape the SECURE FUTURES program. Secure Futures program is poised to utilize girl-centered approaches, design and implement activities in safe sports spaces to increase the social impact support, life skills and livelihood opportunities to young moms.

Employment +Entrepreneurship Girls At The SCB's Annual General Meeting

Employment and Entrepreneurship project girls were invited at the annual general meeting of the standard chartered bank to showcase their skills and what they have been learning in their respective courses. The one day event was attended by the bank’s staff and various invited shareholders of the bank who had an opportunity to visit and witness firsthand what the bank is doing in support of community. The event doubled as a launching pad for the bank’s future makers initiative, a global movement to tackle inequality and promote greater economic inclusion in the market with an ambitious fundraising goal to empower the next generation to learn, earn and grow.

Occupational First Aid Training

 As part of ‘Breaking The Barrier’ initiative and making sure that girls and young women are having economic development pathways into male-dominated sports careers, over 20 participants were enrolled into occupational first aid trainings. The 3 weeks trainings is focusing on topics such as : techniques and equipments,lifesaving procedure respiratory problems, heart and circulatory problems, wounds and bleeding, bone joint and muscles injuries, nervous system problems, environmental injuries, foreign objects,poisoning,bites and stings. After the graduation, participants will be able to: assess, prepare and respond to emergency incidents, monitor risks at work place, manage medical and injured casualties as well as managing emergency incidents scenes. These trainings include both theory and practical sessions and are conducted by Kenya Red Cross society inconjuction with VAP.

Dear Friends/supporters/partners/Volunteers,

 Hope and trust that you're all doing well.First i want to thank you all for your continuous support towards our programs that use football for social and economic development.As some of you may know,for the last 4 years ,VAP initiated an 'Employment+Entrepreneurship' project as an economic empowerment exit for ALL graduates of its football based programs.So far over 140 youth mainly girls have graduated from 'Employment+Entrepreneurship' project and majority of them have secured employment in different institutions based on career/courses that they took while some of them have managed to start their own small scale businesses.The year 2019 has started on a high note as we have recruited over 120 youth participants(including youth with intellectual developmental disability) from across our programs and have been integrated into Employment+Entrepreneurship' project where they will all undertake various vocational training courses of their choice starting this end of May,2019.In order to make sure that all participants are accommodated for their courses,VAP has teamed up with Unity College of Professional Studies (UCPS) and Nairobi Industrial Institute (NII) that will provide the trainings to the participants.Additionally,this year VAP has teamed up with Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF) who are willing to support the 'Employment +Entrepreneurship' project by matching Kes,1,600,000 ($ 13,000) subject to VAP raising Kes,450,000 by June 15th 2019.

We are therefore reaching out to you for your generous support towards achieving the Kes 450,000 ($4,500) target by June 15 that will enable VAP to qualify for the matching fund from Kenya Community Development Fund.

Many thanks for your continous support!

After a successful training on ‘Girl Roster’ by population council, an organization that focuses on research and delivers solutions to improve lives around the world,28 newly recruited coaches are hitting the ground, making door to door visits in various slum areas of Nairobi mapping and collecting data from young moms without safe or secure places. The data collected through electronic gadgets will inform the development of SECURE FUTURES, a program that  utilizes girl-centered approaches, design and implement activities in safe sports spaces to increase the social impact support, life skills and livelihood opportunities to young moms.

Career Awareness Forum

Over 70 girls including girls with intellectual developmental disability accompanied by their parents and guardians assembled at Buru Buru centre for Career Awareness Forum. Organized by VAP in conjunction with Unity College of professional studies and other invited professionals, the one day event focused on providing the nitty gritty information about different courses offered through vocational training which is under VAP’s Employment +Entrepreneurship project, an outlet of all football based programs.

Sports Management Training

Over 20 girls under ‘Breaking the Barriers’ arm were drafted to pursue Sports Management course that would add value into their already existing sports skills tool box. To ensure effective and impactful trainings to the participants, VAP teamed up with Kenyatta University, department of sports and recreation to conduct the training that would cover a wide range of topics including: sports organizations, personnel management, tournament programming and formats, marketing, legal liabilities in sports, sport facilities construction and design, basic concept of crowd management, public relations in sport and crisis management, nutrition and psychology and counseling.

With the word INCLUSION being at the center stage of VAP’s programs for 2019 and moving forward, VAP has been spreading its tentacles to reach out to the youth with intellectual developmental disability by integrating them into social and economic development programs. Spearheaded by VAP and supported by Unity College of professional studies, and the backing of parents and teachers, a couple of youth with IDDs, both girls and boys were recruited from various special schools for ‘Employment and Entrepreneurship’ project. The youth will undergo vocational training courses of their choices, similar to their counterparts (youth without IDD) and expected to graduate and join the mainstream society for economic development. “I want to pursue hair and beauty, start my own salon and earn money for myself and support my family” Said 22 years old Teresia from Nile road special school.

International Women's Day

8^th March couldn’t go unnoticed as VAP’s ‘Employment and Entrepreneurship’ project participating girls joined  women staff of standard chartered bank and other external invited women guests from different organizations to commemorate the international women’s day at the bank’s headquarters. The room filled with words of gender equality and the day’s theme of Balance for Better, sparked a vital conversation and discussions surrounding on how organizations and institutions could create equilibrium in workplaces and the community in general.

New Crop of Sports Physiotherapists

After spending 3 weeks of both practical and theoretical trainings under  ‘Breaking The Barriers’ project, a new group of girls emerged as certified sports physiotherapists and first aid trainers. The trainings conducted by VAP in partnership with other recognized institutions, saw a total of 20 girls   graduating from the course. “Am happy to complete my basic course in sports physiotherapy and First Aid. My next step will be to implement the skills at my local volleyball club as I look forward to advance my career.” Said 21 years old  Mwindu

Meet Karen

At the tender age of 12 years, Karen was already a participant of VAP’s programsin the slums of Kiambio albeit surrounded by a myriad of social and financial challenges. As she was growing up, she participated in Skillz Kenya program that addresses HIV awareness as well being part of the Goal program that addresses sexual reproductive health and economic empowerment, while at the same time being an active football player for Mrembo football club. After going through all these programs, she was integrated into vocational training course where she focused on pastry and cookery and finally after her graduation she landed a job at Hot Delli, a food store inside Garden City mall. “I can now confidently support myself and my family with my earnings.” Said 21 years old Karen.