Susan is a 19-year-old girl from Rumuruti in Laikipia County, where she has grown up in a semi-arid area with her mother and four younger siblings. Life hasn’t been easy; her mother is the sole breadwinner and works tirelessly in casual jobs to keep the family going, but her earnings barely cover their basic needs. Despite these challenges, Susan was a bright and determined student, and her family once looked to her as their hope for a better future.
But everything changed when Susan became a mother while still in high school, she was forced to drop out and her dreams seemed to slip away as her mother’s focus turned to supporting her younger siblings. With no other income, Susan took on casual jobs herself to help provide for her baby, all while juggling the responsibilities of a young mother. Her options were limited, especially with no one to help care for her child, and the weight of her circumstances often felt overwhelming.
Then came a turning point. Through the Youth Skills Development and Empowerment Project (YSDEP), Susan received partial sponsorship to pursue vocational training. She was overjoyed to enrol at Rumuruti Vocational Training Centre in a garment-making course, reconnecting with her passion for fashion design. With every class, Susan’s talent and love for the craft blossomed, and she found herself excelling in the course. “Since I joined Rumuruti to do what I love, I can see my dream becoming a reality,” she shared during a recent outcome harvesting session with fellow sponsored students.
As she prepares for her final exams in April, Susan’s future feels brighter than ever. She dreams of starting her own business in fashion design, not only to uplift her family but to inspire other young women in her community to pursue their passions, no matter the obstacles.
This is the story of John Macharia, a 33-year-old youth living with his mother as squatters in our target area. John’s life has been a series of battles, as he has endured multiple surgeries and life-threatening ailments due to a chronic liver condition. His health issues have restricted his ability to perform strenuous work, which was the only type of work available to him, given his high school education.
John’s situation seemed hopeless until we met him during the identification and assessment of vulnerable youth for the partial sponsorship program in vocational skills training. Listening to John’s story was heart-wrenching. Despite his hardships, John’s resilience shone through. His physical appearance did not match his age, leading many to think he was younger, a testament to the toll his condition had taken on his body. John shared his immense passion for the Hairdressing and beauty therapy industry, a dream he had to set aside due to his constant medical needs, which his mother struggled to manage alongside household expenses. He spoke of the stress he felt watching his mother bear these burdens alone and how the church often came to their aid when they lacked food or when medical bills became overwhelming.
When John was selected for the program to pursue Hairdressing and beauty therapy at Nyahururu VTC, he broke down in tears of joy. “I can see my dreams coming true,” he said. “Now I will be in a position to acquire skills to empower myself and consequently support my mother and build her a home so we can move out from this given space.” John’s dreams are big, but he firmly believes the program is the turning point his life needs. Since joining the program in May, John has thrived. His enthusiasm in class has earned him the respect and admiration of both teachers and fellow trainees, leading to his appointment as the class representative, He also said that the skills he has gained in class enable him to make school girls’ hair from his neighborhood over the weekend earning him small income. For the first time in his life, John feels a sense of hope. He attests that his health has improved and that he has never been happier.
John’s journey with the program is not only giving him vocational skills but also restoring his hope for a better future, where he can support his mother and build a new life for themselves.
