Provide Job Skills to Kenyan Slum Youth

Dear friends and supporters,

We are writing with a quick check in to say hello, to provide you, our kind supporters with a quick update.  We are hoping you and your families are all well, where ever you may be across the world.

Here is Shauri Yako's slums, we have been focusing on trying to start a music training program for youth.  The young people we support have had little access to the arts. Most can't dream of ever owning a guitar or a drum kit, which is a real shame.  It been well documented that the arts provide a critical outlet for youth at risk, helping build their confidence and self-worth.  We know the arts can help steer youth away from the dangers of slum life. 

With the dual goal of bringing joy and providing employable skills, we have been working with young university students from an organization called Nourish in North Carolina, who have helped us to plan toward the start up of a music training program, including providing us with funding to acquire instruments and a couple of computers that we intend to use for weekly classes. In the long run, we aspire to be able to offer sound recording training. In the coming weeks, we'll be focusing program design and continuing to approach larger organizations to help us make our summer pilot project sustainable in the longer run.  Interested in learning more or have an idea to help us get started? Just hit reply to this email. We'd be thrilled to hear from you.

We also wanted to let you know that, with our recent disbursement of funds from Global Giving, we have made a purchase of training room equipment (3 tables and 8 Chairs), moving us closer to what we need for a fully functioning room (24 chairs).  Thanks to you all for helping us get set up to run our programs with adequate facilities.  It may seem like a small thing to be supporting the purchase of chairs, but for youth who are otherwise on the streets of these slums, having a table and chair so they may sit down and learn is important.

For interest, we're also sharing a picture of our Scouts troop, which has been supported by SYSC for many years.  These troop members have been organizing and running regular commmunity clean ups in response to the lessons we provide on environmental stewardship. 

Lastly, we just wanted to remind you that we're still fundraising for our microproject to raise funds for internet connectivity so that we can run an internet drop in centre to provide web training to youth.  With internet access in a computer lab, we could show youth how to use the internet to search and apply for jobs, for example.  If you are able to spare a little, we would be extremely grateful.

Thanks again for your kindness!

Wishing you all the best.

Joe Mwai