Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

Over 60 girls and young women recruited from VAP‘s programs assembled at Jericho social hall for the ‘Employment + Entrepreneurship induction and career awareness workshop that would usher them into their economic empowerment pathways. Accompanied by their parents and guardians, participants were taken through the nitty gritty of their chosen careers by various professionals from Unity College of Professional Studies, and other professionals who provided counseling services as well job marketing and business development information.

Heads Together For Good

A total of 20 young female under the belt of ‘Employment +Entrepreneurship’ project will have an opportunity to further their sports careers by undertaking sports management course provided and supported by Kenyatta University through the recreation and sports development department. The partnership is a springboard to other partnerships to follow that would include research studies surrounding HIV Kick ‘N’Test community football tournaments, voluntary medical male circumcision and how to successfully increase uptake of biomedical services amongst the hard to reach population within our communities.

VAP Attends TVET Conference

The permanent working group on Technical Vocational Education and Training Authority, (TVET) of the ministry of Education organized a 3 days Hands on the Future Skills Show at the Kenyatta International conference Centre. Attended by VAP’s ‘Employment+ Entrepreneurship’ project representatives, the event’s objectives were to: sensitize youth and their parents to the multitude of career possibilities and training opportunities that exist in Kenya, provide a forum for public and private TVET institutions, NGOs, private companies AND development partners to showcase their technical, vocational, entrepreneurship and life skills education and training opportunities; and improve the image of TVET among students and the general public. Additionally VAP used the platform to demonstrate the combination of football and economic empowerment to its youth through various vocational training courses.

VAP Partners With Kenya Community Development Foundation

As a new partner to Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) in implementing livelihood program, VAP formed part of the team that was invited to Beacon of Hope for a series of trainings, peer learning and experience sharing. Through KCDF’s livelihood grant, the main aim is to be more deliberate in strengthening all partner organizations’ resource mobilization, communication, marketing and branding among other things. A visit to Beacon of Hope was of great exposure to share and learn about their great success in implementing social enterprise models alongside their other initiatives, using their own resources to fund some of their own activities hence ensuring sustainability.

VAP participants from different programs joined the world on 26^th November to mark 16 days of activism by holding a procession walk that started at the chief’s camp in Kiambiu slums. Holding placards  and banners with written messages against: child abuse, gender based violence, early marriages, rape, etc, the procession went through various communities up to the final destination, Jericho social hall for speeches of the day from the guest speakers, renowned women rights activists and discussions from the participants.

 Football Matches for 16 Days of Activism

The finals of the Top 8 Wasichana Wacheze (Let girls play) league and Top 8 Heshima league (for boys) was a great wrap up of the day’s main agenda. The two leagues have been running for 4 months with different aims: Wasichana league has been providing safe spaces for girls while talking about issues affecting girl child and Heshima league stemming from Heshima (Respect) program has been targeting boys and using them as influencers for safety and security  of girls and young women while addressing issues of positive masculinities, women’s right, and gender based violence.

Many Thanks For Walking With Us in 2018!

 As the year draws to a close, the entire VAP fraternity would like to take this opportunity and express its utmost ‘THANK YOU’ message to our lovely, readers, program participants, teachers, schools, coaches, networking partners, and not forgetting our supporters for your unflagging enthusiasm and support throughout this period of 2018 which also had its own share of challenges and successes. As you prepare to go for your festive seasons, we would like to wish you all the best and see you again for the next journey 2019.

Africa’s first female 2018 winter Olympics skeleton athlete, Semi A from Nigeria had a stopover at VAP offices on her way to the UN conference in Nairobi. The athlete, whose passion is driven to motivate and inspire girls through sports, had an opportunity to meet some of VAP’s girls participating in the Employment and Entrepreneurship project taking various vocational training courses. The meeting touched on her development journey, focusing more on leadership, building self -esteem and confidence amongst girls and how to become a goal getter.

 VAP Speaks At The ‘Education That Pays’ conference

For the first time the annual ‘Education That Pays’ conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 29-30^th October. Organized by Teach A Man To Fish Network, the conference focused on exploring opportunities, challenges and lessons around the theme ‘Skills for All: Education for Employability, Entrepreneurship and Employment. With ground works surrounding the focused topics, VAP was invited to share its experiences on working with girls and young women on Employment and Entrepreneurship with the drive of football as a catalyst. Amongst the network members in attendance were institutions from East Africa that included: BRAC, British Council, Unicef, Ashoka, Save The Children etc.

After spending 2 weeks of intense training of football refereeing, that included theories and practicals, the first batch of female referees under ‘Breaking The Barriers’ initiative which falls under Employment and Entrepreneurship project were officially handed over their refereeing licenses. The trainings organized by VAP and conducted by Football Kenya Federation’s accredited instructors with experiences from CAF and FIFA drew female participants from all the walks of Nairobi. “I have gained lots of skills and I can confidently officiate any football ball match without any fear.” Said 20 years old Nyokami.

Ready For Coaching

Joining their counter parts in the ‘Breaking The Barriers’ initiative, graduates of football coaching course, during their graduation ceremony. Similar to the refereeing course, the football coaching trainings included both theoretical and practical sessions were also conducted by Football Kenya Federation’s accredited instructors.” Am happy to be a certified football coach and am looking forward to implement the skills that I have gained with my football team that plays in the Nairobi football league.” Said coach, Amina. Continuation of recruitment of girls and young women for other courses including: sports management and sports physiology under ‘Breaking The Barriers’ initiative is still underway with courses set to begin in the not- too- distant future.

Getting Practical

No sooner had she finished her graduation than she got her first job assignment to officiate a local Nairobi Football Kenya Federation’s organized Nairobi football league. Being a former graduate of VAP’s programs and a current Skillz coach, referee Mary has officially been endorsed by the Football Kenya Federation as an accredited football referee and will be assigned various local matches around Nairobi. “Inclusion of women in male dominated career especially football refereeing and other sectors is very crucial to us as a football federation and as a nation.” Said Onyango, FKF Nairobi branch secretary general.

Teaming Up For Good

VAP together with RefuSHE conducted a GOAL event at Muthangari primary school with an aim of sensitizing the young unaccompanied refugee minor girls.The interventions focused on the most crucial life and business skills for an independent and successful life using the unique Goal activities.RefuSHE specializes in identifying and protecting unaccompanied and separated refugee children and youth, especially girls, young women, and their children living in Kenya. Their shelter, education, and community outreach services, coupled with local resources and the refugee community, empower this population to live healthy lives.

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.