One of eduKenya’s community engagement strategies is to serve and empower the neighborhoods where our schools reside. The Community Support Ministry (CSM) department has been researching ways to assist the residents of Naivasha, the current home to our boarding school.Joseph Njenga, eduKenya Community Support Liaison, investigated the area and found many stay-at-home moms, single mothers, and young people without jobs, skills, or opportunities. Earlier success with a complimentary soap making workshop in Mathare led him to propose a similar seminar in Naivasha. Mr. Njenga distributed fliers to local churches and around the Kayole Shopping Center. Several women and boarding school staff members showed interest.On July 14, six local women and three boarding school staff met Joseph at the school, and he instructed them how to make liquid detergent, hand soap, and bleach. The participants enjoyed the class and requested a second workshop so they could learn how to make additional products. They went out and mobilized other women to attend the workshop. The following week six more women and two more members of staff attended the seminar. After a recap of the previous week’s lessons, Joseph taught the group to make disinfectant and shampoo.The participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn an income generating skill. Rose Nyanga plans to pass on her newfound skills to the women in her chama (community women’s group). Boarding school staff plan to teach upcountry relatives how to make soaps so they may start new businesses or supplement their incomes.

The workshops provided an opportunity for Joseph to talk to participants about current issues affecting their community. A significant discussion centered on how to be peace ambassadors during the upcoming Kenya General Elections.eduKenya is an organization built on the belief that all people are made in the image of God and created to experience fullness of life. We believe that life can be radically different for children and families living in abject poverty. We are a movement that seeks to provide sustainable opportunity through formal education, skill training, and local investment.