The youth program developed naturally out of the micro-business finance initiative. Parents in income generating activities began getting worried about their teenage children who were increasingly getting involved in anti social activities such as peddling drugs, prostitution, alcohol abuse and petty theft. It was therefore found necessary to provide counseling services to such children, some of whom were already ex prison convicts. The goal of the project was to help the youth improve the quality of their lives by working with each other, and with counselors, to acquire skills. The program is also designed to provide a conducive environment within which youths can grow and develop into responsible adults.
Today more than 80 youth are in the program. Over the years, the youth have developed a number of activities designed to help rehabilitate slum teenagers and help them develop as adults with some dignity and as responsible citizens. The activities include drama, peer counseling, school visits, education tours, sports, slum clean ups, Information Communication Technology (ICT) education, life skill training, exchange programs and income generating activities. Members of the program have been out of the country on several occasions to make drama presentations. They have participated in sports competitions and have on several occasions won soccer competitions in various categories.
The members have shown that they are well mannered, focused and future oriented who are anxious for opportunities to prove their potential in various life. What lacks sometimes is the opportunity and finances to support them. Several of the youths have joined the micro enterprise program and their businesses are doing extremely well. However, there appears to be lack of a well thought-out program through which the youth could successfully exit to adult life., As a result there are feelings of frustration.
Teenz Group has been very active in the second half of the year. Since July, we have been able to recruit new members in the group hence increasing the number.
The group was able to have the first team building activity at Nairobi arboretum and Sub groups within the group have been formed. This includes:
- Drama group led by Edwin Okumu
- Traditional dance led by Julieut Oseno
- Other dances led by Moses Minudi
- Poems/shairi led by Risper Wanjiru and Tom Onyango
- Drawing group led by Edwin Okumu
- Football team led by Moses Minudi
- Debate led by Nasla Harriet
The vibrance of the youth group can be felt all over the Mathare Valley. Since the inception of the ICT training at the youth office in Mathare in September 2009, the youth group significantly extended its reach into the community, and more young people enrolled for the programme, thus establishing the need for restructuring the group.
The group was reorganized into 7 programs that are now running co currently; sports, drama, poetry, music, ICT, multimedia and garbage clean-up project.
The young people are now able to properly fit into the group and explore their talents based on preference. The services of the group continue to reach more into the community, especially with the inception of new projects aimed at empowering young people.
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