Job Skills Training for Marginalized Kenyan Youth

Greetings from Shauri Yako Youth Support Centre. Thank you very much for your ongoing support of our Livelihood and Life Skills Project. The purpose of this project is to provide unemployed and out-of-school youth with market-relevant job skills and to assist them in entering the employment market. 

Construction skills training:

From February 2023 to February 2024, our Construction Skills program trained 18 youth in masonry, plumbing, welding, tiles fitting, carpentry, and electrician trades. Working with our construction industry partners, Options for Homes Kenya, Forest Hills and National Construction Authority (NCA), we then place graduates directly into jobs. The NCA certifies the training, enabling the trainees to enter into the work force or create self-employment. The program addresses the huge need for trade workers in Kenya's construction industry and supports the high number of unemployed and out-of-school young people who take part in the project.  In March 2024, SYSC recruited 10 new trainees, who are currently training in masonry and welding. With your support, our aim is to train a total of 20 people through this program in 2024.

Every time we train and provide jobs, we know that we have reduced poverty for these people and their extended families. 

Tailoring and dress-making:

In June, we are excited to resume our Tailoring and Dressmaking Skills 8-month course, which has been on hold as we recruited a new trainer. 6 of 8 youth trained through this program in 2022 have secured jobs in the government's National Youth Service and the other two are self-employed. 

Maternal Health Education:

In the informal settlements of Nyeri town, the maternal mortality ratio (that is, the number of women dying of pregnancy-related causes) is high. 2019 census data showed 355 deaths per 100,000 live births in Kenya. The most affected are women who live in poor communities. Women who do not get recommended health care services before they get pregnant are more likely to die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. Women’s health before, during, and pregnancy can have a major impact on the infant’s health and well-being. The strategy is to help pregnant women to get medical care and to end preventable maternal and perinatal death, particularly to those at risk of being left behind especially those in informal urban settlements.  

From March 2024, SYSC has been working in collaboration with the Nyeri County Government to promote maternal health for the urban poor living in Nyeri informal settlements. The government has trained and placed 3 Maternal Health Promoters at Shauri Yako Community Youth Centre who are responsible for serving the people of Shauri Yako, Manjengo and Kiawara informal settlements. We appreciate the support given by the Government of Japan through JOICFP organization to train maternal health promoters. 

Life skills training:

Our longstanding Scouts and life skills training program helps to promote leadership skills, positive social and mental health of young persons and plays an important role in strengthening coping strategies, developing self-confidence and social behavior. The program also teaches health and hygiene practices and decision-making. Also very important, Scounts is a much-needed free community service. 

Thank you very much. Asante sana!

We could not achieve what we do without your support and want to express our profound gratitude to all of you. Be blessed.

Jow Mwai, Chair