Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has launched a new 3-storey community centre in Siaya in bid to scale up its empowerment activities in the county.
The new centre will host women and youth empowerment programs, the key among them are a school library, tailoring floor, gender office, a community hall, and computer lab.
“We want to create opportunities for our youth and women. We need to equip them for the job market, prepare them to do business and make them become people who can be the voice of reason in their communities," Shofco CEO and Founder Dr Kennedy Odede said during the launch on Tuesday.
“Our new centre we host several empowerment programs for them.”
The Shofco CEO further said his organization has carried out several community works in the county including rehabilitation of water pans, digging of boreholes, seed distribution, and distribution of water using bowsers.
“We have 168,000 Shofco Urban Network (SUN) members in this county and they are the ones who tell us what needs to be given priority. Our programs are community-led and that’s what has enabled us to focus on projects that touch the lives of the people,” he added.
Dr. Odede also presided over the election of community leaders who will represent the community at the county level.
“We carry out the election of SUN leaders every three years. These leaders are the voice of the people and they help in engaging the authorities on various development matters. They also advise us as Shofco on what needs to be done in the community,” he added.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, who was the chief guest at the opening of the community centre, lauded Shofco for bringing development to his county.
“Shofco has given our people facilities they can use to change their lives. My only assurance is that I’m going to work with you (SHOFCO) hand in hand. I may not have been too close, but now I will be very close to Shofco,” Governor Orengo said.
