Amuka in Kiswahili means; ‘To Rise Up’. Amuka Foundation is committed to enable those most vulnerable to develop the skills, the confidence and ability to do exactly that.
For those adolescents in Kenya’s urban townships; vulnerable to sexual exploitation, physical abuse and poverty, we assist them develop academic, vocational and critical life skills. In the remote villages of Karare; Marsabit County, we work with pastoralist communities where young girls are vulnerable to harmful traditional and cultural practices of child marriage and female genital mutilation.
Focusing on enhancing life skills and teaching vocational skills; women are able to earn money to care for their families, support access to education for their daughters and strengthen their ability to make decisions.
Our personal development programme; Amuka Twende “Rise Up Let’s Go’, enhances the status of girls and builds positive role models. Including boys within the programme allows them to see for themselves the impact; and the meaningful contribution that girls and women make to the family and community. As support and recognition is enhanced, so girls are empowered to take on new challenges with even greater confidence.
Working closely with individuals, families and each community; we seek to understand the complexity of the problem, and work with them to define realistic and sustainable solutions. We recognise the need for a transformational approach; not simply a quick fix, but a solution that addresses as many of the critical issues, has beneficiaries at the heart of delivery and where the impact and benefits grow long after the funding or the training support has finished.
The challenges we face around the World might differ in complexity and impact, but the lessons in understanding such problems and defining solutions are relevant for us all. By bringing together young people from around the World, we are committed to create an environment to learn about traditions and cultures that affect each of our lives. We want to be a part of building trusting relationships built on tolerance and understanding of what is different and what defines each of us.
Using common interests of sport, social activities and skills, we encourage young people to understand difference, to learn how to bring together positive elements of tradition and culture to solve problems, and to establish their own mark in a peaceful future.