Page 15 - ChildsLife Annual Report 2022

education, diseases like HIV/AIDS and high unemployment rates make it a place from which it is hard to escape. ChildsLife supports 3 primary schools which provide an education to the children of the poorest of families.
The ChildsLife Vocational Centre was built in 2011. It gives youth from Kibera slum between 14-25 years old the opportunity to learn a trade and empowers them to promote their own socio economic developmentt. A range of courses are on offer such
as tailoring, health & beauty, electrical engineering, computer graphics, business administration, catering and early childhood development. To date, over 2750 students took courses at the centre, 90% of whom found employment afterwards.
In 2022, the centre had a population of 250 students in a range of courses, 130 students were on scholarship programs.
Scholarships for Girls at ChildsLife Vocational Centre
For girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, a chance at a good future, without poverty, is very limited. The ChildsLife Vocational Centre runs a scholarship program for these girls. The centre offers a range of courses such as hairdressing, tailoring, electrical installation and computer courses, etc. All designed to provide the student with the opportunity to either find a job or set up their own business. A scholarship covers registration fees, all learning materials, a school uniform and the National Kenya Exam for trade certification.
FGM Eradication Program
In 2022, ChildsLife finalized its second and began its third
FGM eradication project. In each project, we engage a cohort
of 600 school girls from six schools in Kenya’s Kuria County. We work with girls, boys, their parents, community leaders, schools, social service, Ministry of Education, Anti FGM board Kenya and even the police. Extensive tailor made course material has been developed with which the 2 program coordinators, the 5 field officers and the 2 nurses (recruited from the community) reach out to a broad target group to provide information and counseling, workshops, conduct personal conversations and
interviews. In addition, a series of monthly meetings and stakeholder conferences are held to sensitize community members (boys, parents and community opinion leaders) on the negative effects of FGM. After which the participants and the clan elders sign declaration forms promising to end FGM in their clans and to sensitize their own community members on the negative effects of the Female Genital mutilation.
As part of the program, ChildsLife offers a rescue camp for those girls in an extra high risk category. With nearly 98% of girls rescued from FGM so far, the ChildsLife approach has proven very successful!
ChildsLife | Annual Report 2022
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Scholarships for Girls