Mobilizing Youth for Life: " The Multiplier Effect"

Alex joined the World Relief MYFL program in 2005 as a volunteer with our partners in western Kenya, the Anglican Church of Kenya(ACK). When he signed up as a volunteer, he indicated that his strength and addition to the team would be to "help young people constructively abstain." Alex had just completed a course in Small, Medium Enterprises (SME) which is a micro-finance course that gives instructions on how to start small income generating activities.

As part of the Mobilizing Youth For Life (MYFL) program requirements for volunteers, Alex was trained by World Relief to use the Choose Life curriculum to engage youth in interactive sessions on issues of sexuality, abstinence and faithfulness in marriage. Eager to incorporate what he had learned, and with his own motto "I’ll never tell you to do something that I haven’t tried myself," Alex decided to use part of his $50 stipend (given to volunteers by the program for transport and meeting their needs). He bought chicken and maize seeds which he planted in his half-acre plot. Two years later, with proceeds from the chicken and the maize, he was able to buy a cow that produces milk.

Armed with this successful experience, Alex has shared with the youth he trains using the Choose Life curriculum. He realized that most of them were jobless and had no regular income. During the lessons, some of the concerns from the youth were that many engaged in irresponsible sexual behavior because they were idle. So they decided to get involved in income generating activities. After each lesson, they would discuss ways to start up something that would assist them. They all decided to contribute one chicken each. One of the parents donated land where they could start the chicken rearing activities. The group of 22 members now has plans of expansion and is working on different activities as individuals and as a group. The group is currently looking for more land to engage in farming activities. They have begun planting kale, which they project will earn them an income of slightly $1,500 dollars every three months.

The group is likewise keen on individual progression. They have begun what they call ‘table banking.’ This is a form of small loan service, which enables the group members to borrow start up capital for their business ventures. Alice is one of the beneficiaries of the table banking. She has started planting yams which she projects bring an income of $300 per quarter. She intends to pay school fees for herself with this income. Mary and Jane have begun a retail shop where they buy sugar and cooking oil in bulk to sell to the villagers in small quantities.