Provide Job Skills to Kenyan Slum Youth

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As 2017 draws to a close, we at the Shauri Yako Youth Support Centre (SYSC) want to thank you for ongoing support for our work. Without your generosity, we would not be able to provide the programming we do to give youth in the slums we serve a chance at a better future.  While we remain a very small charity, our impact in our community is signficant - thanks to you.

It has been a difficult year in Kenya as political turmoil over the disputed presidential elections has polarized the country, created uncertainty about the future and taken a toll on the economy. Predictably, the impacts on the unemployed have been heavy.  We have also faced our own set backs at SYSC, from unexpectated labour policy changes that have delayed our construction skills training project to budgetary constraints.

Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic, undaunted and enthusiastic to building the capacity of youth to lift themselves from poverty.  And, to that aim, have lots of highlights to share from the last quarter:

• After School Study Program: In October, we started an after school study program for primary school children from Shauri Yako and Kiawara slum’s children.
• Reproductive Health Education: We began providing peer-led reproductive health information in schools within Nyeri town through our Scouts program. We also began a collaboration with Ruare Radio Station to provide a joint HIV/AIDS and Youth Reproductive Health Education program from January 2018. The program will air will twice a week for 45 minutes and is expected to reach reach thousands of people every week.
• Good news: We're thrilled that after 52 years, the Kenyan government has agreed to give title deeds to the residents of Shaurio Yako slums. People began to live here informally in the 1960s after being displaced during the Mau Mau freedom war.  SYSC is carrying on its advocacy for the community, campaigning government to provide a primary school and  sewage system and advocating for youth representation on the Nyeri County government.

We continue to look for ways to diversify our funding and grow our support. We are also recruiting volunteers (local and virtual) to teach music, arts and help with fundraising. SYSC relies on volunteer human resources to deliver our programs so that we can maximize the impact of the funds you give to support our programming. As always, we'd be thrilled for your support as a volunteer or if you have a little extra you can give toward of programming for youth.

Thank you again for your continued support.  We wish you and your families a wonderful holiday and prosperous New Year.

Truly yours,

Happy September to our friends around the world!

We'd like to let you know what's been happening around here, and how your support is making it happen:

Skills training for construction industry artisans:

You may recall that earlier this year we were proud to launch a construction industry artisans training project in partnership with Options for Homes Kenya (OFHK).  This pilot was put on hold in August 2017 because the Kajiado County Government has informed us that all the program trainees in the construction site must have a workman’s compensation insurance. SYSC and OFHK are in discussion to see how this problem can be solved. The program important project receives 75% support from OFHK and 25% from SYSC – and is supported directly through your donations. Construction industry artisans are in a huge demand in the county and, therefore, once these trainees have completed their training, there will be employment for them either from OFHK or other construction companies. We have requested for an insurance cover quotation and have asked OFHK to cover at least 4 people so that we can continue with this critical program.

SYSC Scout program

SYSC Scouts group has really helped to change my life and enabled me to secure a job with Kenya armed forces. I will be forever grateful for all who support SYSC Center and its program. - Dan M - 

Another youth employment opportunity –6 youth from SYSC Scout group with secondary education were recruited into Kenya’s armed forced in July.  This is encouraging to the youth who live in the ShauriYako slums, as it shows that there is recognition of the life and leadership and discipline skills that youth gain from being a part of the Scouts groups.   

SYSC Scouts group also provides free community services. For example, the SYSC Scout group participated in Nyeri Annual Agricultural Show which was held from September 14 to 17. The group had opportunity to discuss scouting with a large number of youth from the county, while also providing free customer and security services for this three day event.

In other youth leadership news, we’re happy to see local youth working with Nyeri Scouts Association and SYSC Scouts to organize walk that will take place in October 28, 2017 in support of Nyeri Hospice.

In Local News, we’re thrilled that the Government of Kenya has announced that it will start providing free secondary education from 2018.

TheKenya presidential general election campaign is still going, but Nyeri county elected a new governor in August. We are waiting eagerly to see if the new county government has development plans for ShauriYako Slums.

Fundraising:

Youth skills training project funds raised from May to 31^st July 2017 were $452.10. These funds were used to support the skills training, Scouts program and to support the office administration. We appeal for funds to buy four computers for the center’s computer skills training program. If you can help, or would like to support our search as a volunteer, please let us know.

Future plans:

SYSC main program focus for the next five years is vocational and entrepreneurship skills training and adolescent reproductive health education. These are two areas that will have a huge impact in youth empowerment in our community and align with national needs. SYSC has developed project proposals for both projects and we continue to seek funding and partners.

To our donors and friends, thank you so much for your continuous support. We appreciate your kindness enormously.

Yours truly,

Joe Mwai