By Shadrack Muriungi | HiH EA Branch Manager- Kiambu
We are so grateful!
It has been nine months since your generous donation began to put Kiambu youths-Kenya, on the recovery path from drug and substance addiction to budding entrepreneurs.
The power of learning
Majority of the 64 members in Kiambu rehabilitation youth project left school at the young age of 15 or, in some cases, even younger. Due to high unemployment rate in the country, youths find it difficult to make ends meet hence engaging themselves in drug abuse and prostitution. Your support provides them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch-up on the skills they need to break the cycle of poverty and ensure their children (for the young mothers/fathers or single parents) have a better life than they’ve had.
64 of the program members are in the process of completing the 'Training on Enterprise Development' module; even as you read this report, they are discovering how to earn money from the skills or assets they already have, leverage themselves from competition, and set their products' prices at the right market rate, prepared business plans and among other ways of putting them on a competitive edge.
Success story
Emma is 25 years old, a former heroin, addict has a success story to share after four months of rehabilitation and business training courtesy of Hand in Hand Eastern Africa.
Emma says “Entrepreneurship training has not only given me business skills, but has fully changed my mind- set in a country where white collar jobs are scarce, it’s important to create a job for yourself and for others”.
Emma, after learning different business ideas and how to spot a viable business opportunity, started making tomato sauce to sell in local kiosks (small shops) in kibera slum. She is working hard to get approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) which will enable her to penetrate the local supermarkets and therefore access a wider market.
Making Ends meet.
Currently she is earning about $5 per day; this a big milestone in her life since she has never earned that much before, leaving her motivated and giving a ray of hope, choice and dignity in her life. Now she can dress smartly, eat well, enjoy financial freedom and assist her parents to educate their siblings.
Looking ahead.
Emma is looking forward not only to expand her business but create jobs for vulnerable youths and to motivate other reformed youths.
What next.
33 Youths have just completed training and the remaining 31 others will finish their training in the next three months; we hope the community will receive the rehabilitated youths with both hands and involve them in social economic activities.
The PCEA Church - our key partner in implementing the project has secured a piece of land where these youths will settle and be engaged economically through agricultural and other socio-economic activities upon availability of funds to finish the necessary required structures.
Though the funds to continue with the training are running out, we hope that you shall be willing once again to partner with us by giving through this platform, just to ensure that this program continues to empower the rehabilitating youth which is our future generation and leaders to be.
Once again, thank you very much!
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