Improving lives of 1000 girls in Nairobi's slums

Over 78 pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers drawn from different slum areas of Nairobi graduated after successfully completing Secure Futures program. The graduation ceremony which wrapped up this year’s graduations was a springboard to the recruitment of a new set of pregnant girls and young mothers who joined the program. All graduates were issued with certificates as a confirmation with others registering for Business trainings, which is an off-shoot program of Secure Future with an intention of setting up their own businesses. “I have benefited from Secure Futures program. I have learnt how to take good care of my baby in terms of proper nutrition and how to keep myself healthy and clean.” Said 17 years old Vivian.

Child Therapy Training Course For Coaches

As a package of Secure Future’s program, Child Therapy trainings is very key for adolescent pregnant girls and young mothers. In order to effectively implement the exercise with the secure future participants, a group of VAP’s female coaches gathered for a 3 days training of trainers’ course focusing on Child Therapy. The training’s contents included: Child Development Theoretical Framework, Child’s world, Children’s language, Attachment in children, Process of counseling children, Approaches to child therapy, Child therapy: types, techniques etc.

 Influencers Forum

In support of their female counter parts, a group of young male: fathers, husbands and boyfriends of Secure Futures participants gathered for a one day ‘Influencers Forum’. The purpose of the forum was to create a platform for candid discussions surrounding: positive and toxic masculinity, good parenthood, gender norms amongst other male responsibilities and support. “Am happy to have attended the workshop. This has made me to change my attitude as a man and consider supporting my girlfriend during and even after her pregnancy.” Said Mutuku.

Banking Mentorship Skills With Standard Chartered Bank Staff

In partnership with staff from Standard chartered bank, VAP organized a one day ‘mentorship’ activity at the outskirts of Nairobi. The event brought together a mixed gender group of 60 girls who belong to Goal program with boys belonging to ‘Heshima’, a program that instills positive masculinity and other gender support information. Participants at the venue were divided into smaller groups of 10 participants each consisting of a Goal coach and three female SCB staff volunteers for the Goal activities while Heshima groups consisted of one male coach from VAP and three male SCB staff volunteers. Goal female coaches delivered Goal activities, VAP male coaches delivered Heshima sessions and SCB staff volunteers focused on mentorship sessions for the participants. Topics were selected according to the challenges the youths from the community are struggling with.