Economic Growth Kenya Project #7743

Provide Job Skills to Kenyan Slum Youth

by Shauri Yako Community Youth Support Centre (SYSC)

Project Report | Mar 4, 2013
Some news from your friends in Kenya's slums

By Joe Mwai | Chair of the Board

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As you may know, we have been facing a serious problem here at the Shauri Yako Community Youth Support Centre. Our centre, where we run our drop-in centre and our economic and social support programs for slum youth, has become very unsafe due to erosion and semi-permanent iron and timber construction. In late November, we launched a "micro-project" through GlobalGiving seeking to raise funds to rebuild in stone and mortar so that we can continue to give youth tools for economic and social development. We are very grateful to let you know that we raised over $1,700 through the kindness of GlobalGiving donors! And we are thrilled that The Project Solution, a U.S.-based charitable organization, has provided us with a grant that will allow the project to go ahead.

We are excited to be preparing the site for construction this week! New, strong walls will not only allow us to deliver our programs in safety, but will mean we can deliver our vocational skills training programs here without concern of equipment theft. We won't have to worry about paying wages for nighttime security, and can devote that much needed money to programming. Thank you to those who have helped make this happen.

We continue to see the benefits of the tailoring training you helped us provide in 2011 as we raise funds toward a second round of training. We recently checked in with trainee Elizabeth Wambui, who is now a small business owner. Says Elizabeth: "The opportunity for SYSC training was a blessing and has changed my life. After completing my tailoring course at SYSC, I secured a micro loan, bought 2 sewing machines and set up a tailoring business, making dresses and bed covers (amongst other things). My business is doing well and I am now able to support my family of four."

Trainee Fraciah Maina reports that she is also now self-employed - as a dress maker in Gamerock town. Not only is she earning a living with the two sewing machines she has purchased, but she is now employing two assistants from the community.

In other news, the leader of SYSC's Scouts Program, Tirus Ndegwa, is soon to be taking 14 members of our Scouts group to the Scouts Founderee camp for a week. Tirus has been elected to lead programs in First Aids, Health, Safety, Sanitation and HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing. The event is expected to draw 10,000 Scouts, including SYSC's members, who will benefit from the team building, leadership and learning opportunities.

Finally, we are anxiously watching the outcome of Kenya's general election on March 4th. We have worked hard to educate youth on the importance of voting. We are hopeful for quick resolution and a peaceful outcome. And we will continue to encourage the government to pay attention to slum issues.

We thank you again for your support and interest in our work. As we always say, we know there are a lot of ways you could give your money. We want to assure you how great a difference you help us make as a tiny organization working in a place where the need is so great and people receive very little additional support. If you are able to support us again, we wanted to let you know that on March 13th, Global Giving will be matching donations at 30% (up to $1000 per donor).

Sincerely

Joe Mwai

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