• The initiative will provide beneficiaries between Sh5 million and Sh12 million a year to support their income-generating activities and become self-dependent.
• The project will be piloted by Samba Sports Youth Agenda, who will manage the programme and recruit qualified beneficiaries on behalf of the donor.
Some 201 widows and youth are set to benefit from Fazil Chinoy fellowship, a community-based development project in Kwale county.
The three-year programme targets to empower and fund young people and women to run sustainable projects.
The initiative will provide beneficiaries between Sh5 million and Sh12 million a year to support their income-generating activities and become self-dependent.
The project will be piloted by Samba Sports Youth Agenda, who will manage the programme and recruit qualified beneficiaries on behalf of the donor.
Samba Sports chairperson Mohammed Mwachausa said the project will focus on capacity building and improving the lives of the youth, women and the community at large.
"The Fazil Chinoy fellowship is to recognise and empower young community leaders to explore their talents effectively," he said.
Potential beneficiaries will receive money in form of monthly salaries.
Mwachausa said Samba Sports, being the watchdog, will ensure accountability and transparency for the funds.
They will provide training, legal advice and organisational support to the identified fellows to help make their projects successful and sustainable.
Already Songesha Mjane and Intellectual Literacy and Leadership Program have won the Fazil Chinoy sponsorship.
The two are community-based organisations in Kwale.
Songesha Mjane founder Mwanasha Gaserego said the funding will help advocate the rights of women in leadership, especially widows, who are being taken advantage of by family members.
She said most widows are being denied inheritance rights, noting that the sponsorship will ensure they are protected.
"With this kind of help, I can support many widows and defend them from any form of harassment," she said.
Gaserego said the widows will be empowered to start small businesses to sustain themselves.
ILLP chair Amani Nuri said they will provide students with scholarly growth opportunities, nurture talents and philosophical development.
Fazil Chinoy is an Indian donor helping communities in developing countries to become successful in livelihood and leadership projects.