Through our Seed of Hope training programme we provide completely free vocational training, business skills courses and personal support to around 900 young people every year, aged 14-25 in Kenya (75-80% are young girls including young mothers) to ensure every young person has access to skills education. Established in 2003, our Seed of Hope programme is multi-award winning and has an impressive track record of 90% of graduates going on to employment, self-employment or further education.

Our three Seed of Hope centres are in Kitui County, Murang’a County and in the Dagoretti informal community in Nairobi.  

We offer accredited technical vocational training courses in:

• Motor Vehicle Mechanics
• Fashion and Fabric Design and Craft
• Carpentry and Joinery
• Hair Dressing and Beauty Therapy
• Catering and Hospitality
• Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy and Computer Skills (short course)

All students are taught essential literacy, numeracy and computer skills to prepare them for the world of work and managing their money.  Students have life skills sessions everyday which address issues impacting them, and work together to develop community-based solutions.  Issues include; gender based violence, knowing and asserting your rights, healthy relationships, reproductive health, nutrition etc. 

We know there are still many barriers to accessing free training for people living in extreme poverty.  We provide a comprehensive package of practical support to address these barriers, and to put students in the best possible position to focus on their education and thrive.  This support includes;

• Nutritious cooked meals – students can’t focus on learning when they’re hungry, for many young people the only meals they eat are at Seed of Hope.

• Menstrual hygiene packs – every month girls miss lessons because they’re on their period and can’t afford sanitary pads, we ensure every girl has menstrual hygiene packs every month and provide training sessions so they understand what’s happening to their bodies.

• Childcare vouchers – sadly the pandemic saw a huge increase in the number of child marriages and teenage pregnancies.  We want to ensure young mothers can have the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge they need to build a financially secure future for themselves and their baby.

• Counselling – many young people joining Seed of Hope have experienced significant trauma, abuse, bereavement and depression.  They can’t focus on learning when they are dealing with significant mental health issues.  We provide group and individual counselling to all students to help them to process what they’ve been through and find ways to cope and build resilience.

• Graduate support – we run a mentorship project matching new graduates with former graduates who are running successful businesses to provide peer support and share their learning. We have just launched an Educational Business Hub in Kitui where graduates can launch their businesses. They have access to all of the tools, equipment, computers and support they need to make the transition from learning to running a successful small business.

Our holistic, person-centred, approach to education, addressing external issues affecting young people as well as providing skills training, is unique and what sets us apart from other technical vocational training providers. 

90% of Seed of Hope graduates are employed, running their own business or in further education. 

More than 80% of graduates are able to support their family’s basic needs such as education and nutrition after completing a Seed of Hope programme.

You can read more about our courses and centres on our Seed of Hope website here.