Nairobi Post Election Recovery Program
Partner: Church Mission Society Africa (2008-09)
Following the post-election crisis in Kenya in early 2008, this project aims to reduce the economic vulnerabilities of certain groups in the informal settlements in Nairobi.
The project has two main components:
1. Women in business support: this component focuses on 150 women whose businesses were destroyed or disrupted as a result of the post-election crisis. They were to be provided with capital to restart or revive their businesses.
2. Enterprise based vocational training (EBVT): this component targets 250 out of school youths both male and female. The component involves the placement of the youths in existing businesses where they learn practical skills like tailoring, hair and beauty work, mechanics, carpentry, etc.
Virginia’s story is just one example of how people are being helped by this project:
Virginia who has four dependants that are in college was operating a second hand clothes business in Toi market in Kibera which was looted and later set on fire. Together with the business, which was her sole source of livelihood, she lost all her household items. Virginia and her family relocated about seven kilometers away to Kawangware and began life all over again. She has begun a small business of selling assorted goods. She expressed her gratitude when the project was launched. Her obvious joy has been the very enlightening training on financial stewardship and group solidarity. She is looking forward to receiving the capital she badly needs to boost her small business.
