Two years ago, in the heart of the Langas slum in Eldoret, a quiet but powerful transformation began: the creation of a small library at the Solasa Community Center, part of the System Changer Network (SCN) Kenya. For many children and adults here, books have always been rare treasures. In most homes, there’s no money…
Tag: youth
Working with girls means changing lives. Working with boys, too, means changing generations!
When we talk about reducing teenage pregnancy and building resilient communities, the focus often falls on girls. At SCN Kenya, we know this is only half the story. True, sustainable change happens when boys are part of the journey too. Boys as Part of the Solution Take Webuye, for example. Here, our NGO partner GAASPP…
Working with youth communities in Kenya
If we want to make the world a better, a more sustainable one, we have to to start from where the people are and to understand their needs first. This means in community based countries as Kenya to understand the community structures, too! Community plays a central role in the Kenyan social fabric, influencing various…
When sustainability investments have some bad site effects…
Sustainable is good. Thinking sustainably, acting sustainably. Investing sustainably and, above all, in an impactful and socially entrepreneurial manner is a big trend. But what if there are unwanted side effects? Yesterday, I was in a children’s home in Tarikere, India. 25 girls between 11 and 17 years live there.“There are still food supplies for…
Health equity in informal settlements in Nairobi? A young woman shares about the gaps in healthcare and her way to become a nurse
Irene, a young women has grown up in Mukuru Slums, in Nairobi: A large area with hundreds of thousands of people living at and below the poverty line. Waste, informal settlements, illiteracy, teenage mothers and bad water conditions are just a few challenges… health equity is not existing. I have known Irene during a visit…
More Mental Well-being for young “acrobats” in Nairobi’s informal settlements
An outstanding, nearly cost- free, but very impactful and creative program for the mental well-being of children: acrobats lessons in Nairobi’s slum Mukuru Sinai. One of our 8 NGO partners, VICCO, runs many diverse projects to support youth and women in one of Kenya’s largest slum areas: from urban farming and nutrition to health and…
World Food Day – leave no one behind!
During the World Food today our local partner in Nairobi, the community based organisation VICCO in Mukuru slums led by Shakur Njeru, organized various activities. His organization supports underserved communities with urban farming in informal settlements, nutrition programs for children and elderly, women empowerment and shelter and a lot of programs for children and youth….
Raising a SMART generation!
We are in the middle of a dedicated youth week in August 2023. A week for underserved children and teenagers in Kenya. Besides regular activities in CHW’s parents and youth center, health and mentoring lesson and many other activities with young people during the whole year, this week is a very particular one…
From cooking lessons to mental health – working with youth in slum areas
In the challenging environment of slum areas, where access to nutritious food is often limited, discussing food and nutrition becomes vital for the holistic development of children and teens. Like here in Mukuru Slums in Nairobi: “More than 1000 families living in Mukuru Slums have been impacted since we started the initiative ca. 18 months…
Planting trees with our young students at the Making More Health school in Kenya
29 May 2023 “On Monday our Gaaspp Team, together with some school students, has planted trees and flowers in the MMH school compound. We have planted indigenous trees to provide shade, protection of wind and as resting place for pupils, for beautification, and for soil erosion protection,” informs Chrisantus, our local NGO partner from GAASPP….
Coming back to a world where people have choices
I’m very grateful for the past two weeks. I had the opportunity to visit several local NGO partners in Kenya. I’m grateful for all the visits and warm welcomes, for a lot of new and deep insights. For seeing that under the umbrella of the Making More Health Initiative we proceed with our System Changer…
Frugal farming and engagement for children in Nairobi‘s slums
I’m back in Kenya for the next three weeks meeting with social organizations, social enterprises and also a huge conference and our Leadership weeks – in several locations across the country. Today, let me share some impressions and two videos from my visit to the Nairobi’s slum Mukuru. The social organization VICCO works there with…
Go Kenya, go future! 