Community Development Programs
Our focus in childcare not only includes the children, it incorporates the entire community. We undertake awareness meetings with the community, especially on matters of child protection and early childhood education. A majority of our work includes advocacy for childrens rights and their access to education with the support of their families and the greater community.
Education among children and youth, primarily surrounding reproductive health awareness is undertaken though a club known as 'Choose to wait'. The running and administration of the 'Choose to wait' program is assisted by several sponsors and volunteers and is aimed at teenage education.
As part of our community development program we have the Skills Training Centre. Located in Ngong town the Skills Centre is a training institute that enrols 20 vulnerable girls from all over Kenya. The students are selected from a large number of applicants each year and are generally the poorest and most needy communities. The group are brought together to learn a professionally tailored curriculum for one year.
Brydges utilise the Skills Centre as an exit program empowering young women with the skills and trades that they need to better prepare them for the outside world. The skills learnt during their one year qualification course here at the Skills Centre are applicable straight away, and of last year's intake of students over 70% acheived full employment following their job placements.
The course offers the following training pathways:
- Tailoring and dressmaking
- Entrepreneurship
- Computer studies
- Business english
- Catering and housekeeping
- Hairdressing and beauty
- Income generating courses including making shampoo, yoghurt, peanut butter, handcrafts, and glass painting
The students graduate after one year, and are put into a short placemet program helping them to secure employment thereafter.
Community Service
In the provision of services the child’s family is considered a part of the child and support of a child’s family is considered indirect support to the child. Therefore, the siblings of a child enrolled in the program may receive the same support as the child. In addition, depending on the situation, the guardian may also be provided with support.
We have set up two nursery schools at our drop in centre as a means to support the communities in accessing affordable early childhood education. Other children in the out reach are sponsored through Brydges Centre and are provided with school fees (when necessary), books, uniforms and money for transport and school trips.
