Women’s Empowerment Project

Our Mission: YOUNG AFRICA WOMEN INITIATIVE (YAWI) www.yawi.org provides women survivors of war, civil strife, Gender based violence and young women in distress with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies changing Africa woman one at a time.

Our vision is for Africa woman to live in a changed world with integrity, peace, prosperity, respect and free of any oppression.

In this context we are aiming to improve self-employment opportunities for young women in Africa, the project will facilitate the creation of a training center in the locality Center for Women’s Empowerment is a $25,000 dollar project that will target 300 young and disadvantaged women, 18 to 30 years of age, from the poorest communities and integrate refugee girls in Kenya.

Participants will comply with the following characteristics:
(i)lacking business opportunities,
(ii) having a small business worth less than KSh. (20,000) equivalent to $300
(iii) lacking access to credit/star-up loans.

The project will provide a comprehensive package of services that includes the following
components:
(i) in-classroom skills training,
(ii) on-the-job training, and
(iii) an exit strategy.

The first component, in-classroom training, consists of an array of courses from cognitive to non-cognitive skills. Cognitive skills involve training on five specific trades: jewelry making, shoe/sandal production, tailoring, and catering. Trainees will select one of these five trades according to their expertise and preference. In addition to these courses, project participants will receive training on entrepreneurial skills, including management and accounting. Entrepreneurial training will include field trips to local markets and commercial banks. Training on non-cognitive skills comprises courses on life and soft skills that will be complemented by psychological counseling, aiming to address traumas of war.

The second component, on-the-job training, consists of a two week internship in local business where young participants will acquire real experience in management. Participants will be placed in business related to their chosen trade. Components one and two will be delivered in a span of five months.

The last component, an exit strategy, will facilitate the implementation of the trainees’ entrepreneurial initiatives and smooth their transition out of the project. The strategy consists of start-up loans and mentoring services that will be awarded upon completion of the training components, a final examination, and the presentation of a business plan. Startup loans will be distributed to groups of at least five women, organized in a cooperative manner. They will receive mentoring and follow up visits for at least three months to ensure a successful beginning.

These organization will provide training services on specific trades and will support marketing and commercialization of products manufactured and produced by trainees.

challenges
YAWI wish to support young women to acquire the skills but have challenges to realize this dream. We are therefore looking for volunteers who can help us meet the need of these young women. We lack the following:
Our plan is to train 300 women in tailoring, jewelry, pastry making and sandal making. We require a room that can at least accommodate fifty women at ago
• Hiring a house for at least two years
• Purchasing of sewing machines, local made ovens, materials for making jewelry
• Volunteer who can tailor causes for sewing class and pastry making.
• Volunteer who can fundraise for the project
volunteer will work in our project in Kabiria slums which is located at the outskirts of Nairobi the Capital city of Kenya. Kabiria has many refugees from war torn countries Rwanda, Congo Burundi and Sudan. YAWI will require at least 10 volunteers who can help set up the training center and fix the required equipment's. setting up the centre would require at least two weeks. development of the curriculum for tailoring and pastry will take three week and one week of induction for the center instructors. your support will be greatly appreciated.