Vocational Skill Building Program
Empowering Teen Mothers | Namwela-Chwele, Kenya
Najijali Project Mission:
As a result of the pandemic condition the rate of teen pregnancy went up by 40% in Kenya. These young girls were forced to drop out of school trapping them and their child in perpetual cycles of poverty. As a response to this crisis, our communities in Chwele, Kenya and supporters across the United States have rallied together to create the Najijali Project.
We strive to:
Improve their mental health with therapy and socio-psychological support.
Help reduce teen pregnancies by including reproductive health education and resources.
Elevate community awareness of the value of the girl child in the local economy.
Teen mothers are learning essential skills to care for themselves and their families independently, contribute to the community, and become a new generation of female business owners. The value of the Najijali Project is immeasurable!
What is Najijali?
In Kiswahili, 'najijali' means, "I care for me." The program focuses on the following:
Skills training for teenage mothers
A daycare for teenage mother's children while they are in class
Health courses- including mental, physical, and reproductive health courses
Business courses and microloans to help teenage mothers start their own businesses
Each young mom have mentors that supports, advise them in starting their own businesses in order to provide for themselves and their children
Why It Matters
Project Phases
Summer-September 2023-The first class continues to work on developing their skills and will go into the attachment phase (internship) later this summer. Then the second class will begin in September of 2023. More to come…
April 2023-Volunteers and Visitors perform the initial site visit for the Rotary Global Grant and to interact with the girls. The community celebrated the project, bringing awareness to the program and to the Chwele Vocational Training Center.
Jan 2023-The Najijali Project began operations at the Chwele Vocational Training Center and welcomed the first class of students and their children!
Sustainability
Developing long-term sustainability is essential!
Local community partners*, such as the Ministries of Education and Health are committed to continuing services and support beyond the first year of the program. Kenyans are used to paying school fees. A culturally appropriate student fee will be established to help provide an ongoing income stream, but will still be low enough to not hinder participation. The Harambee Centre is developing a scholarship program to to help cover the costs of the program going forward. This will also create lasting relationships between our communities in the Pacific Northwest and Kenya - the very spirit of Harambee!
We will continue to update this page as progress continues.
You Can Help
Want to contribute to the Najijali Project?
Najijali Project Partners
This life-changing program would not be possible without amazing partners!
Primary Partners
LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN KENYA
TRAINING
Ministry of Education of Bungoma
County Chwele Vocational Training Centre
Small Micro-Enterprise Program
Chwele Girls Primary School
4-K Club
HEALTH
Ministry of Health of Bungoma
Chwele Health Clinic
Sirisia Sub-County Hospital
Local Clinical Psychologists
Community Health Volunteers
MENTORS
Local chiefs and civic leaders
Najijali Project Youth Counselors