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As you may know, we have been working to get some of our guys into life enhancing courses and scholarships. Since starting this project, we have applied on behalf of more than 30 youths from our immediate area for various sponsorships from different companies and organizations. One particular sponsorship application we were successful with was the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 2jiajiri program. Of the 20 youth that we helped apply for this sponsorship, six have been given places - four Electrical Wireman trades, one mechanical, and one Tiling Trade. The sponsorship caters for the study and exam costs and three of the boys were also given travel allowance and food allowance due to their abject living conditions. The challenge is that the allowance is very small, it doesn't cater enough even for simple things. That's where we were able to come in. We have been able to buy simple but decent bicycles for them to ride to the college. The agreement is that they can use it and gradually pay it off as they earn. After three months of study, they will be going for industrial attachments. By that time, they will have paid of the bike (or most of it) and will have free transport to their workplace. One of the boys, Antony (21yo), had been at a loss as to what to dream or hope for in his life: "Even if I had the opportunity to get a sponsorship for college, I would not be able to afford going to study without working. So, going to study was not an option. It was just work, work, work in a dead end job. No time to study." This is a common plight for the youth in this area of Nairobi. Even if they make it out of high school, there just isn't enough funds available for futher study. "I was so suprised that I got the KCB sponsor." commented Anthony "There were thousands of applicants. But it was only because Kayole Mtaa Safi supported us form the start that I am going to be successful in doing this. They helped us right from the application to the transport and also the books and things like the geometry set and T-square. Now I have a serious plan and I can't take this opportunity for granted. I know where I have come from and now I know where I am going. Thank you for supporting me." It is cases like Antony's that let you know you're having an impact. His life will never be the same again because somebody has stirred into his future opportunity and ability. Our plan is to have at least 10 youth continuously moving through some sort of training/study. As they move out of the college, we hope to replace them with other keen, needy young men and women. You can help. Just click the button below to see how.
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Having set up and run-in the cafe over the last couple of months, we felt it was time to hand-over the cafe to the refugee women with the support of the refugee community here in Kayole and surrounds.
Of course, starting such a business is never easy, and we had our teething problems. But all-in-all, the cafe seems to be a moderate success. But It's more than a successful business venture - it marks the turning point in not a few refugee families. Anita, a 24 year old single mother of three, was beside herself talking about the opportunities this cafe can bring families like hers. "We have never been helped in this way before. No-one has thought about us like this. This will change our lives and our children's lives." Bishop John is a Kenyan pastor who for over 8 years has been tirelessly looking after refugees from East African nations. He helps them physically and uplifts them spiritually. When John and his team agreed to take on board the oversight of the cafe project, we knew we were leaving it in good hands. His extensive experience, his good standing among the community make him and his team an excellent choice for the oversight and direction of the project. So, we had a little party. Cakes were eaten and sodas were downed. Big dudes in high places were there and the little people were too - all rubbing shoulders and having a good time in celebration of a successful project and a bright future for all involved. (The local chief, MP and County Rep were present). Then there were the goodbyes. But not the Game Over. Having now been running for over a month without us looking over their shoulder, the cafe is still going strong. Good memories and discounted dinners are now ours for the taking anytime we want! AND THIS IS ALL THANKS TO DONATIONS. If you were one of those generous people, no matter how small or large it was money-wise, it was BIG to us. You could have used it somewhere else, but you stood by us and our needs. Thank you. This project also made another impact in our little organisation. It allowed us to use the GlobalGiving platform for other projects. That was no small feat in itself. There are very, very few crowdfunding platforms that allow a small grass-roots community organisation in a developing world with no office in a first-world to run a crowdfunding exercise for us. Nor with the professionalism and support that puts GlobalGiving ahead of the rest of the platforms. Each and every donation counted - that's no exaggeration - we only crossed the finish line with one donor more than we needed and that one was almost too late! It just goes to show how much a little bit of help from many people can do. Thanks again for sticking by us. I invite you to check out our other projects currently running. We are supporting young men and women in reaching their dreams of a higher education. In Kayole, this is a pipe-dream to most youth. Now it is becoming a reality. |
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Post in this blog are contributed by the various members of Kayole Mtaa Safi Initiative. Archives
February 2019
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