Children learning in the YSDAK computer lab
What we do

Programmes that change lives

YSDAK runs across Homabay and Kisumu Counties, tackling the barriers young people face — from lack of schooling to health risks and untapped talent.

Education

Jamilo School

Launched in 2010, Jamilo School is a learning centre that offers a hands-on early childhood, primary and Junior school education based on Kenya Curriculum Based Education enriched with experiences from the Netherlands. The school was founded with the purpose of bringing quality education to the doorsteps of the low-income families of Kolwa central and saving parents the hustle of looking for schools away in Kisumu town.

The school runs a unique scholarship scheme aimed at aiding disadvantaged children from the host community to access education at the school alongside children from able families. Learning at the school is guided by professional teachers supported by the management and a team of committed non-teaching staff.

The school currently has a population of 254 learners at different levels of their education, among them 20 children from vulnerable households who receive free education courtesy of the school sponsorship. The school computer lab is a vital resource for the youth in this community as the school provides designated access to learners from the neighboring schools to access the facility on request. With the support of its partners, the school trained its teachers together with teachers from the neighboring schools on computer application so as to support learners in their respective schools.

Location: Kisumu County, Kolwa community
Established: 2010 (construction began 2009)
Levels: Full primary school (Nursery through Standard 8) and Junior school
Population: 254 learners (including 20 from vulnerable households receiving free education)
Staff: 17 regular staff

Sports & Talent

Sports & Talent Development

YSDAK recognizes that young people like playing and playing enables them to grow strong physically, socially and psychologically. YSDAK uses sports as a means of nurturing talent and promoting life skills ensuring that young people spend their free time in a useful and productive manner. Sports draw young people together and provide a platform for sharing youth-relevant issues such as drugs and substance abuse, Adolescence Reproductive Health, HIV&AIDS, teen pregnancies among others.

YSDAK strives to support schools and local youth clubs with sporting gears, balls and uniforms as well as sponsoring youth tournaments, and using sporting events as avenues for creating awareness on matters affecting young people. Specifically, the program organizes tournaments to grant young people opportunities to play and exploit talents as well as supporting youth clubs with balls and uniforms. Efforts are made to bring in resource persons and professionals to interact with the youth on topical issues during the events.

YSDAK continues mobilizing youth for sports and using sporting activities as a means of reaching out to the youth with relevant information on mitigating challenges affecting young people such as drugs and substance abuse, Adolescence Reproductive Health (ARH) and HIV&AIDS among others.

Focus: Athletics, football, team sports
Skills built: Discipline, teamwork, leadership
Reach: Youth across Homabay and Kisumu

Health & Education

Health & Reproductive Education

YSDAK runs Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) programmes that equip young people with knowledge to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Additional focus areas include HIV&AIDS prevention and management, and drug and substance abuse awareness — all critical for communities where youth face significant health risks.

YSDAK uses sporting events as avenues for creating awareness on matters affecting young people. Resource persons and professionals are brought in to interact with the youth on topical issues during these events.

Programmes: ARH, HIV&AIDS, Substance abuse awareness
Approach: Peer education, community outreach, sporting events
Counties: Homabay and Kisumu

Child Sponsorship

The Children Left Behind (TCLB)

Launched in 2008, the TCLB project provides education sponsorship for needy and vulnerable children in Kisumu County. Through partnership with "Shika Tamaa" organization in the Netherlands, the project continues to give hope to needy children sponsoring them through different levels of education.

YSDAK, through its local community networks, has the responsibility of carrying out assessment to identify deserving children based on project criteria. The selected names are sent to Shika Tamaa, who in turn looks for sponsors. Funds so mobilized by Shika Tama are channeled to YSDAK at the beginning of every year to support education of the sponsored children.

Through this initiative, over 300 needy children have completed their education and training and secured various qualifications ranging from university degrees, college diplomas, certificates and artisan/craftsmanship. Some of them have secured formal employment, others are self-employed while others are still searching.

Launched: 2008
Location: Kisumu County
Coverage: School fees, uniforms, materials, mentorship
Partnership: Shika Tamaa (Netherlands)

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Your involvement — as a sponsor, volunteer, or partner — directly impacts the lives of children and youth in western Kenya.

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