Girls for the future Project

 ‘Jijenge’ program for girls in Tertiary Education

There has been a consistent problem that has been caused by mismatch of the trainings acquired against what the employment market demand. Dealing with this eventuality is a big struggle for many young people, and if not well taken care of, the community may end up having many young people with no relevant skills which is dangerous.

This past quarter Mango Tree has put a concentrated effort in developing a program for young girls to gain gainful basic skills and to become entrepreneurs hence creating jobs for themselves and the market.

We want have developed p a succession program for our young girls in tertiary education so that they may be able to contribute positively towards the community at whatever capacity by being creative, innovative and entrepreneurs or business people. This program looks at entrepreneurship and innovation for the young girls. We have so far engaged 30 girls and are looking at targeting 200 girls.

OTHER ONGOING PROJECTS

1)     Supply girls with Reusable Sanitary Pads

2)     Health Outreach

3)     School levies to vulnerable children

4)     Holiday Tuition, Reproductive Health and empowerment Seminars  

5)     Alternative Family Based Care (AFBC)

Activities Progress

ü  The organization supplied 226 adolescent girls with re-usable and disposable sanitary towels. The girls were trained on the use and re-use of the sanitary towels.

ü  The organization through community health nurse conducted 9 outreaches programs targeting girls with health education and treatment. HIV counselling and testing was also done to 37 of the adolescent girls.

ü  Through TMT family in August during the school holidays, the organization mobilized 55 adolescent girls for health and motivational seminars. The seminars focused on among others; life skills, sex and reproductive health, career choice, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship skills. A graduation of 39 adolescent girls was also held for the TMT family that had finished there VCT, College or University education.

ü  Over the last ten (10) years the organisation has used AFBC (Alternative Family based Care to support highly vulnerable OVC. The foster homes have provided the OVC with adequate family environment to enhance development.

ü  The organization managed to continue supporting 8 highly vulnerable OVC at AFBC (Alternative Family based Care) by providing foodstuff, medical care and regular visits.

Challenges

ü  Funding remains a key challenge to implementing this project. Meanwhile, the organization is trying to come up with innovating ways of continuity of the project.

ü  School levies for the AFBC OVCs is a challenge especially when the foster parents cannot afford whatever levies are required

ü  Most of the adolescent girls are not willing to use the re-usable sanitary towels due to of inadequate water for sanitation and safe spaces for the management of the same. They dont have their own rooms, adequate birth rooms,etc.

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Mango Tree Orphan Support Trust Kenya is currentlyimplementing a “girls for the future” intervention in North Rachuonyo Sub-County a view of eradicating the education barriers which prevent girls from regularly attending school and also to empower them to achieve their potentials in school. The project targets 600 girls in both primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

 The project aims to:

1)     Supply girls with Reusable Sanitary Pads

2)     Heath Outreach

3)     School levies to vulnerable children

4)     Holiday Tuition,Reproductive Health and empowerment Seminars  

5)     Alternative Family Based Care (AFBC)

Activity Progress

ü  The organization supplied 200 adolescent girls with re-usable sanitary towels. Plans are underway to produce the pads locally.  The girls were trained on the use and re-use of the sanitary towels.

ü  The organization through community health nurse conducts weekly outreach programs targeting girls with health education and treatment. HIV counselling and testing are also be in cooperated into the programs

ü  Through TMT family this April during the school holidays, the organization mobilized 100 adolescent girls for tuition, health and motivational seminars. The seminars focused on among others; life skills, sex and reproductive health, career choice, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship skills. It is the intention of the organisation to develop an incubation entrepreneurship centre for the girls to equip them with relevant business skills

ü  Over the last ten (10) years the organisation has used AFBC (Alternative Family based Care to support highly vulnerable OVC. The foster homes have provided the OVC with adequate family environment to enhance development.

ü  The organization managed to continue supporting 10 highly vulnerable OVC at AFBC( Alternative Family based Care) by providing foodstuff medical care and regular visits.

Challenges

ü  Funding remains a key challenge to implementing this project, organizations is constantly engaging its donors for continuous support and for a timely completion of the project. Meanwhile, the organization is trying to come up with innovating ways of continuity of the project.

Next quarter activities

Supplying of Re Usable sanitary towels and sensitization and Health talks in schools by community nurse
conducting Holiday tuition and health and empowerment seminars at our Farmers Training Centre by Community nurse and professional counsellors/speakers
Weekly visits to Alternative Family based Care homes AFBC Homes by Community nurse
Development an incubation and entrepreneurship center/resource center at our Farmers Training Centre by program and M& E managers