Women, youth benefit from Shofco's development programs in Nyeri

Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) has stepped up its women and youth empowerment activities in Nyeri County by rolling out various programs.

Speaking in Tetu constituency on Wednesday, Shofco Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede said his organisation has fully sponsored 247 youth in Nyeri to join Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

“There are a lot of complaints about youth getting into drugs, and alcohol. But when you look at it, it is all about lack of opportunities and that is what we are trying to create.

“If we work together with the government, we can solve this issue once and for all,” Dr. Odede said.

The Shofco founder said once the youth have been trained, they will be assisted to secure jobs or given grants to start their businesses.

“We must look for opportunities for the youth we are training because if we don’t, they will go back to where they were,” he stated.

At the same time, Dr Odede said his organisation will boost businesses owned by women in the county.

“Our women are very innovative and I know many of them own small businesses here in Nyeri. Under our women empowerment program, we are going to give grants to women who are doing businesses because they have shown that they are willing to change their lives,” he said. 

Nyeri County Department of Education and Training Director Mrs Anne Njora thanked Shofco for sponsoring youth to do technical courses in the county.

“I want to thank Shofco for partnering with us to empower the youth. We pray that may God continue to bless you so that you can enroll students on all 28 technical institutes in Nyeri County.

“Thank you also for uplifting the standards of the women because when you empower a woman, you empower a whole community,” Mrs Njora said.

Tetu Assistant County Commissioner (ACC) Mr. Lawrence Onduso lauded Shofco’s programs, saying they complement what the government is doing.

“When you look at what Shofco is doing in Tetu Sub-county, it helps us sort out three major problems that we face in the country; which are diseases, poverty and illiteracy. So, we know that Shofco’s initiatives are going to help our people and we are ready to support the organisation as the government,” Mr. Onduso said. 

Apart from Tetu, Dr. Odede also met Shofco Urban Network (SUN) members in Nyeri Town and Mukurweini constituencies where he gave out bursaries to high school students worth Ksh2 million.

The organisation has so far sponsored more than 2000 students joining Form One since the start of 2024.

Henry Kinyanjui, one of the TVET sponsorship beneficiaries in Mukurweini, said Shofco came to his rescue because he could not proceed to college after Form Four due to lack of school fees.

“On behalf of Mukurweini youth, I want to thank Shofco for sponsoring us. We have a total of 20 youths sponsored to study at Mukurweini Technical Training Institute and we are grateful for that. 

“We would like Shofco to still sponsor more youth who are getting lost into drugs and other substances,” Kinyanjui said.

Last year, Shofco also distributed certified maize seeds in Nyeri County to address food insecurity that had become widespread.

Nyeri County was among counties from Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Nyanza and Coast regions that benefitted from the organisation’s Ksh83 million maize seeds donation.

Through its Youth Voice project, the organisation is seeking to reach two million youth across Kenya in a 5-year plan through various courses that include sports, financial access, training, job placements, and mental health sessions.

“Under our Youth Voice program, young people in the informal settlements will have access to dignified work by participating in job training and will be connected to employment opportunities, bursaries and financial literacy education.

“Youth entrepreneurs will network and develop partnerships to launch their businesses, and all young people will have access to ongoing mentorship to continue on their journey of economic empowerment,” Dr. Odede said.