Economic Growth Kenya Project #53203

Support to 80 street connected Kenyan youth

by Association of Mission Volunteers

Support to 80 street connected Kenyan youth

Summary

We look to offer holistic support to street connected and homeless youth in Kitale in western Kenya. Our World of Work (WOW) project has two main objectives. The first is to provide the young people with livelihood and self-reliance opportunities through lifeskills, business and other trainings, business grants and ongoing support. Secondly we will assist the young people to access appropriate housing and help them in practical ways to be self-reliant as they transition from life on the streets.

$25,000
total goal

$2,188
remaining

136
donors

10
monthly donors

2
fundraisers

3
years

Challenge

There are many organisations working with street connected children but fewer specialising in working with over 18s. When these young people turn 18 for many of them they are left to their own devices. This can mean having even less of an opportunity to turn their lives around; due in part to the lack of service provision for vulnerable young people whom on turning eighteen years are 'seen' as adults and therefore unable to access the supports they once had when they were seen to be children.

Solution

The project will support the youth by; 1) promoting their economic sustainability through access to vocational & livelihood skills training that will provide them with job & business opportunities 2) promoting their personal wellbeing through supported access to services & meeting their need for shelter through access to affordable accommodation 3) facilitating their learning and development of life management skills within their community & society 4) encouraging their active citizenship

Long-Term Impact

We hope that our intervention will break the cycle that the young people have found themselves in, through no fault of their own. Leaving the streets to set up their own home means that they won't become part of street connected families. They will be able to bring up their children in their own home and will have a job, skills or a business to be in a position to support their families.