Lucio Klaus

Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) Introduction Brief background Kariri Njama Foundation is a registered Foundation by the Registrar of Societies under section 10 of the Societies act. Key Focus Areas The foundation has 4 major areas of focus to empower the local community namely: Better education, Better Healthcare, Socio-Economic empowerment and Environment Conservation. Mission statement To create a platform that promotes community engagement and empowerment. Project Summary In Kenya, the youth who fall between 18-35 years form about 35 per cent of the country’s population. This age group forms what is currently being reffered to ‘youth at risk’. Organizations and leaders will need to put more focus in curving their future and future for this country. The project is specifically aimed at ensuring that at least 50% of youth completing the training programme secure employment or start sustainable profitable businesses 6 months post training completion. The pilot program was flagged off in October 2019 and the first graduation was in December same year. It is offered in Gachie and entails three months of training per cycle. It is targeted at vulnerable youth who are defined as 18 to 35 years of age with at least eight years of schooling and who are not in school or working at the time of entry into the program. The project is still on going. Problem Statement This project addresses the problem of poverty, drug, alcohol abuse and youth unemployment in Kiambaa sub county, Kiambu county in Kenya and eventually spreading to the other counties The county has high levels of youth unemployment, including long-term unemployment which leads to increasing hunger, deterioration in living conditions, increase in crime and poverty among the youth. The county has also been experiencing an increase of incidences related to substance abuse, psychotropic substance addiction, smoking and alcoholism. The young people lack opportunity and knowledge to participate in the life of society and contribute to its development and well-being. Problem Statement Population Growth Rate High population growth of the youth is a global challenge and just like many African countries, Kenya has a disproportionate large population of young people who are facing a myriad of challenges which include unemployment, drug abuse, exclusion from active participation in the society and poverty. This trend is a threat to social cohesion and political stability as the idle and disenfranchised youth are easily manipulated by political elites for their own selfish interests, engage in crimes or are recruited into illegal groups. Empowerment of the youth would therefore prove to be successful only by considering the forces that entice the youth to crimes. Objectives Setting up a training centre to offer entrepreneurship and employability skills. These skills will assist the youth to become productive, independent, exploit untapped potential, alleviate poverty and improve their living standards. To offer basic job training on a quarterly basis for the youth so as to increase their employability and sharpen their job searching skills. Empowerment of the youth through financial support, education and skills. KNF identifies individuals and groups that can be funded to set up businesses. By providing financial support, the foundation will create opportunities and business experience for the youth in Kiambaa Sub county, Kiambu county. KNF will develop a funding mechanism so as to create accountability, responsibility and increase beneficiaries. The funded projects progress will be monitored on a continuous basis. Objectives Inculcation of social values in the youth. inculcate the social norms and values in delinquent youth group by developing a sense of responsibility and good conduct amongst them. Identify and support alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation centres in the county. KNF will create and support de-addiction programmes together with these rehabilitation centres. The Foundation aims to create various income generating projects for the youth to utilize their already acquired skills. Leadership training for the youth to enable them to be able to elect the right leaders who stand for development and do not mobilize youth for their own political interest. To offer various business training after every 6 months. To come up with various business models that can be adopted by the youth. Key Benefits The project seeks to inculcate the social norms and values in delinquent youth group by developing a sense of responsibility and good conduct amongst them. Vocationally trained, skilled and motivated youth group. Having ample motivation and knowledge for self-employment and entrepreneurship. It will work towards enhancing the chance of employability as well as promote self-employment and entrepreneurship amongst them. The developed sense of responsibility and volunteerism amongst the client group which will lead to partial reduction in petty crimes, drug abuse and family violence in the area. The foundation will be seeking to reduce cases of alcohol and drug abuse in the area. In conjuction, good de-addiction programmes will be put in place. Rehabilitated youth will be involved in various income generating activities. KNF On-going Projects Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) The Foundation provides vocational training to empower the youth with employability and enterprenual skills. Phase one of the project kicked off in Q4 of 2019. In the 2nd Phase, KNF intends to maintain a database and the business plans of its graduates so as to fund small scale businesses to beneficiaries of this programme and also assist in job placement. YEP Pilot Enrolment and Graduation Phase one of the Youth Empowerment Programme was a three month course that equipped the youth from Gachie and it’s environs with entrepreneurial and employability skills. The course was very successful where 99% of the youth that were enrolled managed to graduate. This is a very promising beginning and as such we are currently enrolling our second intake for Q1 year 2020. We would like to take it a notch higher and hopefully offer a more sustainable approach in ensuring that there is continuity, support and accountability. The future priorities for KNFshould be for the government and the private sector to expand the coverage of the project to the whole country. Also, the mentorship component of the project should be strengthened by assisting the youth to identify mentors and promoting linkages with funding agencies and financial institutions. Free Medical Camps: Eye and Dental check up The foundation in partnership with Lions Eyesight Clinic and Smile Changers Foundation organized a Free eye and dental check up for the residents of Muchatha and it’s environs on the 16th November 2019. The free Medical services provided included Eye check up, Dental check up, Cataract Surgery and provision of reading glasses. The medical camp successfully treated a total of 411 patients. This event will be a calendar event, which will be organized annually. KNF Projects.. Drug Awareness Campaigns: The foundation in partnership with Lions Eyesight Clinic and Smile Changers Foundation organized a Free eye and dental check up for the residents of Muchatha and it’s environs on the 16th November 2019. The free Medical services provided included Eye check up, Dental check up, Cataract Surgery and provision of reading glasses. The medical camp successfully treated a total of 411 patients. This event will be a calendar event, which will be organized annually. Environment Campaigns: The foundation will organize camps to generate awareness and motivation regarding environments, de-pollution, planting of trees, waste disposal, cleanness etc. These camps are intended to create tangible and lasting positive impacts on the ecology of the area. A clean up and awareness exercise is being organized in partnership with Coca-Cola bottlers for this year. We are hoping to have a good number of participants from all age groups. Kiambu County Fact Sheet The Swot Analysis of Kiambu County STRENGTHS Proximity to Nairobi Infrastructure Major roads Industrial city: Thika Good agricultural climate High human development index and Entrepreneurship spirit OPPORTUNITIES Super highway Conducive climate Tertiary institutions, National schools Many leaders in positions of authorities Agricultural land Rapid expansion of Nairobi City towards the environs WEAKNESSES Youth unemployment and lack of mentorship Drug and substance abuse Low literacy levels and few TIVET institutions Lack of professionals Under-equipped and overburdened health facilities Poor infrastructural access to agricultural areas Limited land Insecurity THREATS Proximity to Nairobi HIV / AIDS Insecurity Illegal groups - Mungiki Unfavorable historical perceptions Project Timetable Statement of work Personnel Requirements Project head (1) on full time basis. Communications Head (1) on full time basis. Project Co-ordinator (1) on full time basis. Human Resource Trainer (1) on full time basis. Computer instructor for successful operation of vocational training programmes (2) on full time basis. Volunteers (4) on part time basis. Counselors (2) on part time basis. Doctors for conducting health checkup camps (2) part time basis. Statement of work Technology Requirements 4 Laptops 10 Desktops Internet Connection Learning and Teaching Materials Reception desk and classroom furniture TV Sets Water Tanks and Filters Solar Power Connection Event Speakers, Stage, Tents & Seats Annual Budget Summary Recurring Expenses Key Personnel Evaluation Project evaluation will be jointly held with all stakeholders including, donors, and community elders in the project area, beneficiaries, and relevant government counterparts every year before starting of another budget year. Evaluation will measure physical performances, budgetary utilization, quality and quantity of work done, correlation of the work done with the set objectives and the set plans and timetables. Evaluation will carried out in the following areas before 2021 Kickoff: Financial system, cost effectiveness and budget utilization. Total number of youth trained in our centre. Number of youth employed after being trained in our center. Number of trainees who manage to generate income and self supportive citizens. Number of active loan repayments from disbursed funds. Amount of money generated by our organization through income generating activities to finance its projects. Number of campaigns organized by the foundation. Number of clients who visited center. Reduction of criminal activities in the area. Sustainability The project is highly beneficial not only for the youth of the community but for the community as a whole. It envisages the development and empowerment in the community which residents have been asking from their leaders and organizations. The project has the capacity to turn the nonproductive youth of the community into responsible citizens who will work towards holistic development of themselves as well as their society. As the project is highly beneficial for the society, its day to day needs will be taken care of by the community members and other stakeholders. After 1 year of its completion, the project annual expenses will keep reducing as the resource for its sustenance will be raised from the vocational training center, metal, wood & printing workshops, youth projects, donations and other income generating sources. KNF EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES