Help Mission Development Services

Help Mission Development Services (HMDS) is a Kenyan Non Governmental Organization (NGO) operating under the NGO Coordination Act 1990, since 2004. The Organization’s Mission is: ‘To assist and empower disadvantaged people and communities towards self determination, self reliance and self sufficiency”.

The Organization is based at Nakuru- the headquarters of Rift Valley Province- and serves different communities in Rift Valley and Eastern Provinces of Kenya, through community development initiatives, vocational and education sponsorship – with special emphasis on the Girl-child - and improvement of physical facilities in project schools.

HMDS corroborate Government development agenda in its programme areas and works in partnership with ICARE AUSTRALIA, INTERAID DENMARK and CO-OPERAID SWITZERLAND, to accomplish its mission.

PROGRAM PERSPECTIVES 2008

As project duration for Primary education sponsorship continued to shorten, the emerging concern was, “where the children go after completing Primary and Secondary level education. Not all of them are absorbed in higher learning institutions”. The challenge therefore, was how to intercede for the youth that did not make it to further their formal education careers.

Towards the end of 2007, CO-OPERAID and HMDS carried out a baseline study on Youth Polytechnics (YPs) in Rift Valley Province. It emerged that, of the over 64% youth population in Kenya, many suffered unemployment due to lack of basic skills and the situation was getting worse by the day. The most disadvantaged were school drop outs of both Primary and High school education. Youth Polytechnics were considered the best option for these youth to pursue vocational skill training for better livelihood in the future.

THE NEW PROJECT: “TUMAINI LA VIJANA”

“Tumaini La Vijana” (in Kiswahili’- Kenya’s National language), translates to – “Hope for the youth”. The concept was informed by the fact that, many youth dropping out of school, had - in practical terms - very little opportunity to achieve satisfactory livelihood. They required skills – some vocational skills – to guarantee their self reliance and self sufficiency in life. Towards this end, CO-OPERAID and HMDS started by focusing the needy situation in the YPs. They were found wanting, ill equipped and incapable of competitive vocational skill training levels. Majority of them were seriously experiencing the following problems.

• Inadequate resources. • Declining quality of instructors. • Obsolete equipment. • Inadequate training curricula i.e. certain important vocational skills not in the training program. • Lack of institutional competitiveness. • Gender under representation; Women limited to Home science, Secretarial, Tailoring and Dressmaking courses only.

After careful study of the situation and reviewing the socio-economic problems facing the youth in the Rift Valley region, HMDS in collaboration with CO-OPERAID, resolved to implement the “Tumaini La Vijana Project.” The planned launching early in the year was delayed owing to political instabilities which followed the general elections in December 2007. The project was however launched on 19th - 20th April 2008 in Nakuru with the objective of collaborating with the Government in reviving 12 selected Youth Polytechnics in the region over the next three years. The 12 YPs are spread out in six Districts including Nakuru, Nakuru North, Molo, Koibatek, Baringo and East Pokot.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Ultimately “Tumaini La Vijana” aims to provide vocational skills to youth who have dropped out of formal schooling, as a means for their future livelihood i.e. employment or self employment. In particular, it sets out to:- 1. Identify and select deserving YPs for institutional reinforcement through provision of tools and machinery, textbooks and payment of school fees for needy trainees. 2. Strengthen and financially support Income Generating Activity Initiatives by the YPs. Organize Youth Polytechnic Management Committees (YPMCs) / Youth Polytechnic Board of Directors (YPBDs). 3. Training and evaluation seminars towards efficient and sustainable of respective YPs. Upgrading of instructors’ training skills. 4. Enhancement of Girl-child education through Girls Clubs in project YPs. 5. Support for YP ex-trainees to start Income Generating Activities towards self employment. The targets are to be counseled on career opportunities available. 6. Career counseling for unemployed youth who have not found work after leaving school. The counseling being focused on educational professional opportunities available. 7. Organization of HIV/AIDS awareness creation, sensitization and campaigns in project YPs, their communities and municipalities in the project region. 8. Support and promotion of sports infrastructure (sports grounds and equipment) and implementation of sports events as a contribution to personal development and experience sharing among rural and urban slum youth.