IGNITE THE DREAM OF VULNERABLE YOUTH IN KENYA

Collince Dundo, the founder of Youth Initiative Development Programme started the Scholarships programme early in 2016 after coming across very needy and desperate cases of young people that had dropped out of school. Initially, he was doing it himself for a long time and then added one personnel to assist him. Back then, the numbers of students were very few. Over the years, the personnel have grown to five in number and student numbers increased tremendously and thus the need to re-look into the programme.
2.0 Problem Statement
High poverty levels, prevalence of HIV/AIDs, limited access to education and training are some of the main reasons as to why Youth Initiative Development Programme endeavors’ to provide educational support to needy and deserving students.
3.0 Conceptual Framework
Goal: The overall goal of this concept is to put in place a model for enhancing education accessibility to vulnerable children/youth within Youth Initiative Development Programme geographical area of scope.
Purpose: To assist in paying secondary school fees in an attempt to help the needy and deserving students realize their dreams and in promotion of self-reliance.
Specific Objectives:
• To partner with parents in supporting needy students access secondary education.
• Facilitate development and promotion of talents for talented students and young people.
• To promote efficiency of the programme

Expected Outputs:
• Clients self esteem improved
• Empowered citizens that can take care of themselves
• Reduction of poverty levels
• Dependency to Youth Initiative Development Programme reduced considerably
• Plough back of time, labour & resources

4.0 Secondary scholarship application requirements
• Be a needy and bright Kenyan or refugee
• Kenyan students should score 300( to be reviewed)marks and above
• Refugee students having 250 (to be reviewed) marks and above
• Ongoing students should maintain an outstanding performance, minimum of C+

5.0 Methodology of recruitment
• Strict procedures/rules & regulations to be put in place
• Interview of clients at the reception by the social workers
• The background history of the student to be written down
• Short list of those who qualify to be presented to the panel
• Focus on the very needy(Inmates children, refuges not supported by ARP, Windle Trust, JRS and other agencies assisting refugees, orphans, those from sickly parents etc)
• Home visits will be mandatory for those for all, but in case of logistics (too far away or not accessible by staff, recommendation from the previous school, church and probably the CDF committee or local leaders.
• An interview with the prospective student and guardian/parent will have to be conducted by a panel of not less than four personnel from Youth Initiative Development Programme.
• An application and registration form has to be filled
• Need to communicate promptly to those that do not qualify
• In case of referrals from other organizations, all background information has to be availed.
• Feedback to be given back to all & a formalized agreement to be put in place
• There will be need for frequent consultative meetings with parents and the schools

6.0 Geographical coverage
• Youth Initiative Development Programme should continue to have a strong presence in the current geographical areas (Nairobi, Kisumu, Siaya, Homabay and Kakamega) County. This will aid the organization to network and build partnerships with other like minded organization for a more integrated development approach.
• It will be easier to monitor and evaluate those clients who are within the county we work in, but this should not discriminate the diverse cases presented to the office from various parts of the country

7.0 Strategies to improve performance and efficiency
• Mentoring of students
• Networking and collaboration with like minded organizations
• Character formation through retreats and team building initiatives with students
• Parental guidance by having sessions with parents
• Frequent visits and follow-ups with the schools for monitoring & evaluation
• Formation and strengthened Alumni

8.0 Monitoring & Impact Assessment
• Regular school visits(At least once a term)
• Regular meetings with Principals and parents
• Close monitoring of performance of the students (Termly) and those not meeting the required grade to be mentored and if they do not improve, the panel will make a decision on whether to advice them to do a vocational course or his/her scholarship terminated.