Vocational Trainings with Baraka Women’s Centers
Baraka Women's Center, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a sister Center in Rumuruti, Laikipia County and a retail shop in Thika, Kiambu County, is dedicated to empowering vulnerable women through essential life skills that facilitate income generation. Offering courses in beadwork, tailoring, hair & beauty, digital literacy, table banking, and savings and loans schemes, the center is a beacon of hope for young mothers and marginalized women.
In 2023, the Centers' new partnership with The Giving Exchange (TGE) has strengthened the impactful programs, uplifting and empowering deserving women for brighter futures. Since the introduction of TGE funding in September, the centers have graduated 50 individuals in tailoring, 84 in hairdressing, 10 in beadwork, and 51 in Entrepreneurship and Transformative Leadership.
Beyond certificates, the impact of vocational training is tangible, with 55 women bravely starting businesses or securing employment, a testament to the practicality and effectiveness of the acquired skills. Entrepreneurship and Transformative Leadership training have acted as catalysts, propelling 131 women to start a new business or make significant improvements to their current enterprise.
Strategic funding has turned adult learning into a beacon of educational empowerment, with 39 enthusiastic trainees pursuing knowledge, addressing immediate skill gaps, and opening doors to broader opportunities for personal and professional development.
Another notable achievement is the introduction of 38 new table banking members and the formation of a new table banking group, fostering financial inclusivity and community support. Table banking, a means to access and offer loans without microfinance organizations, has empowered 45 women to demonstrate financial independence by fully repaying their loans, illustrating the sustainability and effectiveness of the program.
In collaboration with TGE, Baraka Women's Centers have become cornerstones in their communities for positive change. The ripple effects extend beyond skill acquisition, inspiring empowerment, community building, and economic resilience. As these women continue to thrive, they showcase the transformative power of education, vocational training, and strategic partnerships, forging a path towards a more empowered and self-sufficient community, one success story at a time.
