Training of 250 Rehabilitated Youths in Kiambu

Case Study

Group name: Kaa sober youth group

Project name: Training of 250 Rehabilitated Youths in Kiambu 

History

Kaa Sober is a Swahili word for stay sober. Kaa sober group composed of 10 youth from Kongo slums in Kiambu County who have undergone Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA) entrepreneurship training .The group was formed by youth rehabilitated from alcohol addiction .HiH EA has offered both entrepreneurship support and motivation for the youth to stay sober thus the name of the group .Members of the Kaa sober group were all unemployed and depended on casual labour which pays an average of Ksh 50 /$0.50 a day. The income could not sustain their daily needs and was identified as one of the reasons causing alcoholism as a way to deal with stress.

Business Training

The entry by HiH EA was an opportunity for them to grow .During enterprise training they got inspired by the success stories and the practical nature of the training .They got a business idea and under the mentorship of their Business Trainer they embarked on the poultry business. They began by saving Ksh 50/$0.50 per month. Progressively they were able to save enough to buy each member 10 chicks. With early planning and business acumen they charted a marketing path for their business identifying possible challenges and solutions. Alongside this they were also able to start a business where they sell tree seedlings.

Training Outcomes

The group has since maintained their business and they now operate with no major challenges since all members take up their roles seriously. They sell atleast 20-30 chickens a week and the average price of one chicken is ksh 500-700 averagely earning Ksh 10,000/$ 1000 to Ksh 15,000/Ksh 1500 a week. Owing to their performance and mentorship to other youth, the area Member of County Assembly (MCA) donated 1000 chicks to their poultry project. The group members are now able to attend to their basic needs and are agents of change in their community. Rehabilitation is a journey which has been made easier through having activities that occupy their time and generate income. They plan to grow and expand their poultry business to earn more income, and employ youth struggling with alcohol addiction.

Looking back, the project has achieved tremendous milestones with a 95% success rate on the members mobilized. On 4th April 2019 we coordinated a graduation ceremony and the purpose was to mark the end of the project so as to begin the next phase of concretizing and actualizing the business concepts trained in real terms, through financial support and advanced skill support mechanisms not limited to practical on ground interactions.

Out of the 110 members trained, 105 members graduated and received certificates indicating successful completion of the training. Although the project was to mobilize 250 youth due to insufficient funds the project has actualized 110 youth.

The youth were trained on various skill and practices Including Poultry farming, Urban farming i.e. use of pyramid gardens, beadwork, mat making, soccer ball making, soap making(as shown on phot attached) all income generating activities. More to this drug and alcohol sensitization was also done

70 members have adopted to the urban farming skills using the pyramid gardens, and 12 holding a group activity of rearing chickens that stand to a total of 84 chicken so far and also a table banking activity with a revolving fund of approximately Ksh 30,000.

The main challenge experienced was lack of market for produce and so the advanced skill support would include value chain activities that include the solar drying of the vegetables and an incubator to hatch and sell the chicks.

HiH EA will still support the entrepreneurs post project through linkage on business development support services and follow up routinely the progress of the entrepreneurs.

We are grateful for the support accorded to us during implementing this noble course.We welcome further support to reach out to more youth