Sustain 500 families affected by Covid-19 in Kenya

“When I joined Garden of Hope Foundation, I did not know anything about computers and sustainable business. I am now computer literate and I am also able to start my business thanks to the organization. This knowledge I have gained will really help me to run my business ” Ruth 

During the Covid-19 pandemic. Young women and girls in Homabay remained vulnerable to effects of the pandemic like  early school dropout, early pregnancy, lack of sustaianable employment and increaesed gender based violence. Since 2020, we have been working with 20 young mothers who have been mostly affected by Covid-19 to ensure that they continue supporting their children. 

The aim of implementing this project in Homabay is to empower young women around Rodi Kopany with sustainable entrepreneurial skills that they can leverage on to start an income generating activity. One of the biggest challenges that young mothers face in this rea is lack of household income which bring about low living conditions and increased cases on domestic violence.

 Out of the 35 women, 20 registered and consistently attended the training. We covered the following aspects during training: benefits of starting a business, resource assessment and business idea, start-up capital and the different avenues they can explore to get start-up capital, market research, marketing and sales plan, business model canvas, how to break even and accounting and record keeping. With these skills, they can now be able to identify and implement a viable business idea that would generate an income. We are looking forward to assessing the businesses for funding so as to increase their stock and eventually profit margins.

For high school students living in urban informal settlements. Going to school is a dream they hope can come true. This is mainly becuase their parents cannot afford to pay the much needed tuition fees. During the Covid-19 pandemic, most of these students were forced to drop out of school completely, while others have been forced to only attend class when their parents/gurdian are able to get some finances. These finances are however never guaranteed considering that the families depend mainly on casual jobs. 

Since the pandemic started, we have ensured that 30 high school students attend school without interuption thanks to your generous support. These students would otherwise stay at home and perhaps involve themselves in negative activities. 15 students were added the last 3 months. 

This year, our hope is add 20 more students. Thank you for being part of this initiative. We believe that education is the only way to solve systematic poverty. 

Joy just turned 2 years!!.

I never throught I would get to see her 1st birthday. "I am 19 years old, a mother of 1 beautifil girl called Joy. I got pregant in 2019 August. This was after someone I trusted took advantage of my desparate situation and forced me into early "marriage" I did not have a choice at this time, becuase my parents passed on when I was still young. I had to drop out of college because I could not afford to pay my school fees and up keep. In March 2020, Joy was born, unfortunately this was the same day Kenya annouced its first Covid-19 case. The situation was dire, because of Covid-19 restrictions.

I could not secure a job, get my baby basic needs or even travel. As a young mother, I could not attend regular clinics after delivery. I tried several options to solve the situation, but nothing seemed promising. After 2 months of struggle, a close friend introduced me to Garden of Hope Foundation. That is when I learnt about the young mothers program.

This opportunity was quite exciting for me, becuase I believed it would help meet the needs of my daughter. I attended all the sessions with my daughter, luckily Garden of Hope Foundation provides a conducive environment for young mothers. After the sessions, I prepared a via business plan. I was able to receive some start-up capital from the organization to start the business. My business has been running for 7 months. Joy is healthy and happy. I have moved to my own place. I am saving some money from the business to ensure my daughter get the best education".

Regards Mama Joy.

The Covid-19 pandemic has left many people jobless. In Kenya, over 1.5 million people have lost their jobs since the pandemic started. This means that more and more families cannot be able to get a daily meal or afford basic needs. Women and Children are the most affected. Rose was married at the age of 19 years. As a young girl with so much dreams, her life was cut short when her parents died. This forced her into early marriage. Unfortunately her "husband" left her with one child in Kibera slum.

Rose did not have an option except to start provding for herself and her young child. Because of her low level of education, she could only secure casual jobs which are not well paying. When the pandemic hit, she was one of the 1.5 million Kenyans who were rendered jobless. Her employer could not allow her to continue with her job. Rose was forced to sleep in the streets with her child for several months.

During this time, she knocked on several doors for jobs, but unfortunately nothing was forth-coming. Rose was later introduced to our young mother's economic empowerment program by one of the well wishers who had heard of her plight. She succefully went through the program and was given a start-up capital to start her business. Rose is currently running a profit making business in Kibra and she is able to provide for her family. Her son just started school. Apart from her business, Rose has dedicated herselft to mentoring young people on various issues that affect them in the community.