Job Skills Training for Marginalized Kenyan Youth

Dear Friends and Donors.

This is a report of the Livelihood and Life Skills Project for the period ending July 31, 2022. First I want to express our profound gratitude to you for your continued support, and commitment to our cause. Your contribution makes the work we do to provide job skills training and creating job opportunities for disadvantaged youth. 

Spring Training - Complete and Employed

In June, we wrapped up our most successful round of training yet! After delivering welding training and apprenticeship to a group of 10 young community members, we are thrilled to report that 9 have secured jobs: 6 were hired by Kenya Railways, 2 by Options for Homes Kenya (our training and apprenticeship partner), and 1 is self-employed. (The last trainee found alternative employment before the course was completed).

New Training Round Begins

Your donation is now supporting 8-month masonry and plumbing skills training program for a new group of 10 youth. These skills remain in high demand in construction industries. Once again, we are partnering with Options for Homes Kenya on the training and to place trainees in jobs as soon as their training is complete. 

A message to you from a Masonry Trainee:

"At age of 22 and only with primary school education, I had given up about ever getting an education or job training. Now after 8 months of job skills training and internship, I am a qualified mason and have secured a job with Options for Homes Kenya. My sincere appreciation to you for giving me this opportunity."  

 Kenya Update

You may have read news of the drought and food shortage affecting Kenya. While we feel significant concern for those who are affected, Nyeri is not impacted. The whole of Kenya, however, is coping with the high inflation. The rising cost of basic food and the high price of imported petrol is affecting basic commodity prices and making it even more challenging for members of the communities we serve to get by. 

This week we also voted in our general election. The very close results are being reviewed and contested by some. Many people are staying home for fear of violence. Most Kenyans want stability and peace, and for authorities to be focused on the real issues affecting common folks, like poverty, unemployment, and hunger. SYSC and other NGOs, along with religious leaders, are talking to political leaders in joint efforts to ease tensions.

Thank you again for your support. It makes our work possible.

Joe