LaunchPad: A Flying Kites Initiative
A proactive initiative connecting orphaned and vulnerable youth in rural Kenya with the tools and opportunities to succeed as adults.
Profile
I am passionate about: Providing access to education for critically-poor youth in Kenya as a means to rise out of poverty, and become leaders of tomorrow.
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Flying Kites
Research
0pt
Idea
21pt
Evaluation
1pt
Collaboration
39pt
Total
61pt
A proactive initiative connecting orphaned and vulnerable youth in rural Kenya with the tools and opportunities to succeed as adults.
Hi Amplify Team,
Thank you for all of your questions-as they helped our team to refine the details and present the most comprehensive initiative! We've responded to your feedback within our program outline, as well as below:
What stage is Launchpad in currently?
LaunchPad, as a program, is still in it’s start-up phase. We garnered enough support and collaboration to launch the initiative in April of 2015, however, the initial year and a half of the program has been coupled with experimental programming, and an effort to gather feedback from participants in order to develop the most effective program. At this point in our process we have been able to meet and collaborate with various organizations throughout Kenya, and cultivate relationships with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and social innovators who have become part of this initiative. Now, we are hoping to expand the reach of this program to impact even more youth living in Njabini.
How do you recruit strong mentors for the program?
Flying Kites has been working in Njabini since 2007--in that time we have had the opportunity to cultivate relationships with many community members and organizations. We take pride in providing mentors and role models that are relatable to our students, and therefore reach out to that network of reliable community players to serve as long-term mentors for students.
Is there any stewardship involved with the graduates of your program?
In line with our emphasis on family and community- graduates of LaunchPad often become the role models and mentors to younger classes of LaunchPad students. Program graduates share struggles and accomplishments of applying to university, working a full-time job, and everyday tasks such as getting to work on time and balancing their budget.
After students graduate from LaunchPad, Flying Kites ensures success. Students have access to guidance from our staff- and are eager to share about their new life experiences. Additionally, students have opportunities to receive small loans to help achieve their dreams of furthering their education or starting a business. Success doesn't start as soon as LaunchPad ends, and it is our goal and our responsibility to provide tools to help students navigate life.
What types of partnerships are you creating to strengthen the program's viability?
When seeking out partnerships we look for individuals and organizations that embody the tenacity, innovation and “big picture” attitude that LaunchPad embraces. Rather than exhausting resources and recreating initiatives that Kenyan-based groups have mastered- we seek out partnerships that align with our vision and offer trainings, advocacy workshops, opportunities for student internships, and collaborations with youth across the country.
How does the project envision the different needs between boys and girls/ men and women?
At Flying Kites we serve the most vulnerable students in rural Njabini. Working within the context of rural Kenya, our women and girls face a myriad of challenges. Through of Wasichana Pamoja initiative, we are working to protect and empower female students against child marriage, female genital mutilation, sexual and physical abuse while providing the opportunity to advocate within their community and connect with mentors. We envision a community where girls are able to attend school, obtain a higher education, work in any and all fields, and serve as leaders. Specific to LaunchPad, we enlist the stories and inspiration from groups like WomEng, an organization that started in South Africa, seeking to inspire and support women and girls interested in engineering, and other careers in the STEM field. Mentors like WomEng provide real insight into the struggles and triumphs of being a woman in the working world, and provide tools and strategies to navigate tough situations.
For the boys in the program, we have partnered with Kenya Community Development Fund who through their annual Mentennda (Men Take Action) initiative, provide guided and structured mentorship to our boys alongside teenage boys from Secondary schools across Kenya, in an attempt to nurture them into responsible men in society who strive to take action resulting in lasting social change.
Hi Thomas,
That would be great- we would love to hear about your programs and share about our experiences thus far as well. If you would like- you can send me an email at morgan@flyingkites.org and I can connect with your team in Kakamega.
Best,
Morgan
Flying Kites
Flying Kites commented on LaunchPad: A Flying Kites Initiative