Kenya faces teething socioeconomic problems, specifically in poverty alleviation and reducing inequality. Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO (HFEN), through its Tujimudu Project, seeks to deal with these problems by targeting post-secondary school adolescents, many of whom are living in children’s homes, rescue centres, and vulnerability centres. The project aligns its objectives with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which seeks to end poverty, and SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities.
Poverty and Inequality in Kenya
Despite impressive economic growth in Kenya, poverty and inequality levels remain persistent within the nation. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reports that as of 2020, 33.6% of Kenyans were living under the poverty line. Likewise, economic variations are significant, with the wealth distribution levels showing more concentration within the urban regions whereas those in rural regions as well as those in marginalized communities face high ratios of exclusion from enjoying profitable economic opportunities. These inequalities have disproportionately impacted the youth, more so those without access to education facilities, technical skills, and employment opportunities.
The problem is mainly worse for post-secondary school adolescents, a population that often grapples with reduced prospects for higher levels of education or decent employment. A majority of these adolescents live in children’s homes and rescue centres, having been raised with limited access to opportunities that facilitate them the chance to free themselves from the vicious cycle of poverty.
The Tujimudu Project: Qualifying Adolescents for Economic Autonomy
In dealing with these shortcomings, HFEN created the Tujimudu Project. The project’s main aim is to provide post-secondary school adolescents with technical skills that will improve their employability competency levels by equipping them with the skills needed to attain economic independence. Through partnering with T-Fashion, a social enterprise that trains these individuals in fashion production and entrepreneurship, the Tujimudu Project develops a sustainable route to decent employment for these young persons.
By offering hands-on training programs, the participants acquire skills in areas that include tailoring, fashion design and manufacturing, as well as digital retail, which directly deals with the demands of the labour market. Hence, these adolescents attain autonomy and gain an opportunity to get rid of poverty within their communities. Moreover, by keeping the focus on adolescents from children’s homes and rescue centres, the initiative seeks to close the inequality gap, thus directly contributing to the attainment of SDG 10 objectives.
SDG 1: Alleviation of Poverty
SDG 1 advocates for total alleviation of poverty. The Tujimudu Project’s interests in the development of skills and the creation of jobs fulfil an essential role in expelling poverty. The World Bank notes that “inclusive economic growth, driven by investments in human capital, is key to reducing poverty”. Through equipping adolescents with practical skills that enhance their employability, HFEN is working to break the vicious cycle of poverty for these persons and their communities.
More so, the initiatives collaboration with domestic enterprises like T-Fashion ensures that the skills acquired relate to the market’s needs. This market-centred approach raises the likelihood of subjects securing future employment positions or in some cases, starting their own enterprises, further playing a role in poverty reduction.
SDG 10: Getting rid of Inequalities
Kenya grapples with significant levels of inequalities spanning across different sectors such as education and employment. SDG 10 calls for a reduction of inequalities through empowering vulnerable communities and ensuring they enjoy equal access to available resources. HFEN’s Tujimudu Project focuses on one of the most marginalized demographics in the community—post-secondary school adolescents who have been living in children’s homes and rescue centres. These persons mostly deal with grave barriers to enjoying higher levels of education and decent employment, which keeps them tied to the vicious cycles of inequality.
By giving these young people the knowledge, skills and opportunities, they require to thrive, HFEN is actively adding its weight to reducing cycles of inequality. In line with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education is crucial to reducing inequality within and among countries”. The Tujimudu Project’s stance on technical education and provision of employment makes sure that post-secondary school adolescents from marginalized backgrounds can gain access to opportunities that formerly would be out of their reach.
Now what?
The Tujimudu Project is a vital project that addresses the twin objectives sought by SDG 1 and SDG 10 within the nation of Kenya. By centring on the development of skills and the creation of jobs for post-secondary school adolescents, the Happy Faces Empowerment Network is spearheading actions around the reduction of poverty and cycles of inequality. The initiative’s targeted method of working with adolescents from children’s homes and rescue centres makes sure the most vulnerable members of the community are empowered enough to take charge of their futures. You can equally become a part and parcel of this transformation by contributing to our cause. You can do so by sending a donation or making a purchase of fashion items made by these trained post-secondary school adolescents. You can make your voice heard in the littlest of ways.
If you love our work and would seek to donate to empowering post-secondary school adolescents. You can donate through our MPESA till number 8489358 or click the donate button on this site. You can get more of our content through this site.