Social Impact
Section 1: Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO
Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO was legally registered by the Kenyan Government on March 30, 2022. Primarily operating in Nakuru County, the organization focuses its activities in Nakuru East Constituency. Its mission is to protect the rights of orphaned, vulnerable, disabled, and marginalized children and adolescents, addressing the unique challenges they face as they transition into adulthood.
The primary goal of Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO is to provide a seamless transition for young individuals when they reach the age of 18. This crucial stage often leaves them vulnerable, as they must navigate life outside of protective environments without adequate support. The organization is dedicated to equipping these individuals with the necessary technical skills and providing them with workspaces where they can utilize these skills to earn a living.
Initially, the organization focused on rescuing orphaned and marginalized children from abuse and mistreatment, ensuring their physical, emotional, and psychological needs were met. However, recognizing the gap in support for adolescents ageing out of care, the CBO has expanded its scope to include:
- Skill Development: Offering training programs tailored to equip youths with marketable skills.
- Work Opportunities: Providing a workshop space where these young individuals can work, create, and earn a living.
- Monitoring and Support: Continuously overseeing the progress of participants to ensure they attain their goals and can effectively showcase their skills.
The Tujimudu project is a key initiative led by the management team of Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO. The board of management will coordinate the project, ensuring that activities align with the organization’s objectives and that necessary approvals are granted for project-related endeavours.
Beneficiary Recruitment: The process for recruiting beneficiaries will follow the CBO’s Qualification Criteria, overseen by the group’s secretary, ensuring fairness and transparency.
Values and Ethics: The CBO’s policies emphasize values of fairness, justice, human rights, mutual cooperation, transparency, and integrity in all operations.
To maintain high standards of accountability, the Tujimudu project will undergo audits by both internal and external accountants. This ensures that all resources are allocated appropriately, with a strict policy against embezzlement.
Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO is well-positioned to implement the Tujimudu project due to its extensive experience working with various children’s homes, rescue centres, and other organizations. This background enables the CBO to identify suitable candidates for the project effectively and monitor their progress throughout the training sessions.
To ensure accountability and transparency, periodic reports on the impact of the Tujimudu project will be published. These reports will detail the progress of participants and the overall effectiveness of the initiative, providing stakeholders with insight into the positive changes being made in the lives of marginalized adolescents.
Section 2: Tujimudu Project: Empowering a Sustainable Future
The Tujimudu project is transforming lives across several counties in Kenya, with its main operations based in Nakuru City. Named after the Swahili word for ‘sustainability,’ Tujimudu is a comprehensive initiative targeting post-secondary school orphaned, vulnerable, disabled, and marginalized adolescents. These young individuals often find themselves ill-prepared to transition into society upon reaching the legal age of 18, having been raised in children’s homes without the necessary life skills.
A report from the Daily Nation (April 30th, 2023) brought attention to this issue by highlighting the story of Ibrahim Ombima. Like many others raised in children’s homes, Ibrahim struggled after leaving Mama Fatuma Children’s Home at 18, finding it difficult to adjust to life outside. He expressed, “The challenges start after someone finishes Form Four… By the time you finish Form Four to confront life outside, it gets difficult.” He initially resorted to crime, echoing the experience of many who turn to illegal activities, prostitution, drug abuse, and in some cases, suicide.
Historically, support for these adolescents has focused on providing physical goods, but little attention has been given to their transition into society. Responding to this need, the Happy Faces Empowerment Network CBO launched the Tujimudu project to help bridge this gap, offering targeted adolescents the opportunity to acquire the technical and entrepreneurial skills necessary for independent living.
The rationale behind the Tujimudu project is clear: marginalized youth are left behind due to a lack of access to skills and resources that would allow them to thrive in adulthood. Many adolescents leave children’s homes without the means to apply any skills they may have acquired, limiting their opportunities. Tujimudu addresses this gap by providing training programs and a pathway to real-world employment through its workshop in Nakuru City. Trainees not only learn practical skills but are also paid a stipend from the proceeds of the products they create. After six months of training and work experience, graduates receive small start-up funds through the Tujimudu Sacco to launch their own businesses, creating a sustainable cycle of empowerment for future cohorts.
Expanding Impact through the SDGs
The Tujimudu project directly aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 1: End Poverty: By providing targeted youth with technical skills and entrepreneurial opportunities, Tujimudu helps break the cycle of poverty, giving participants a sustainable livelihood.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Tujimudu not only trains these young individuals but also provides them with real-world work experience and start-up funds, fostering sustainable economic growth and decent job opportunities.
SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure: T-Fashion achieves SDG 9 by leveraging innovation and technology to build sustainable infrastructure, promote inclusive industrialization, and enhance the fashion industry’s resilience through personalized, eco-friendly solutions.
SDG 10: Reduce Inequality: The project specifically addresses inequality by focusing on marginalized groups, giving them access to skills and resources that they have traditionally been denied.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By equipping youth with the skills needed to contribute to their communities, Tujimudu promotes inclusive, safe, and resilient urban development, particularly in Nakuru City.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The Tujimudu workshop promotes responsible production practices and eco-friendly processes, aligning with the global push for sustainability.
SDG 13: Climate Action: Through its eco-friendly production methods and emphasis on sustainability, Tujimudu contributes to climate action, helping mitigate environmental impacts while equipping participants with green skills.
The Power of Change
The Tujimudu project is more than just a skilling program, it is a driver of social change. By addressing the root causes of marginalization and providing practical, actionable pathways for adolescents, it reduces crime, prostitution, drug abuse, and suicide among youth in Nakuru County. It also plays a critical role in Kenya Vision 2030 and the Start-up Bill 2022, both of which aim to foster growth and innovation in the Kenyan economy. Tujimudu ensures that underprivileged youth are not left behind but instead become key contributors to the nation’s development.
Together, we can create a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable society, one empowered adolescent at a time.
