Future Poa Project
“Poa” is Swahili slang for good. The Future Poa Project, which translates to ‘a good/better future’, is a youth-focused project and one of our three main projects. Being a youthful country, 75% of Kenya’s population is made up of individuals between the ages of 18 and 35. These young people face a number of challenges – key among them being lack of employment. The Future Poa project addresses this gap through enhancing access to hands-on skills as well as soft skills. These skills include digital literacy, tailoring, peanut butter production, and music.
The Future Poa project also prioritizes the mental health and well-being of our youth through group therapy and counseling. Through this, the youth is helped to cope with the challenges that weigh on them in their day-to-day life. The Future Poa project is supported by Edmund Rice Foundation Australia, our corporate partners.
Digital Literacy Training: Focuses on graphic design, software development, digital marketing, and online career opportunities.
Tailoring Training: Teaches young mothers how to tailor and design different types of garments and clothing items.
Peanut Butter Production: Trains young mothers in peanut butter production after which they sell the peanut butter and split the profit. This together with tailoring were initiatives that were established in the aftermath of Covid-19, where an increased rate of teenage pregnancies was recorded in the slums.
Music Training: Uses the power of music and art to provide the youth with a platform of self-expression while building discipline and sharpening their skills. The youth has the opportunity to learn how to play instruments such as the piano, drums, flute, and guitar. The young people are also taught how music can be used as a tool for mental health.