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,