We asked 19 of our program participants what challenges they and other chilren/youth living in Kibera face and how Uweza was helping them overcome these challenges.  Their responses were written and unprompted – they were encouraged to write as much as possible on any topic they felt was important.

 

Ages of Respondents:

15 years old: 6 
16 years old: 4
17 years old: 3
18 years old: 2 
19 years old: 1 
20 years old: 1 
22 years old: 1 
25 years old: 1

 

Gender of Respondents:

Female: 10
Male: 9

 

 

 

 

 

Challenges faced by children/youth living in Kibera:

Lack of school fees/educational opportunities: 12 (63%)
Drug abuse: 11 (58%)
Peer pressure: 8 (42%)
Lack of job opportunities/unemployment: 7 (37%)
Lack of opportunities to explore/develop talents: 6 (32%)
Poverty and lack of basic needs (food, clothing, shelter): 6 (32%)
Lack of parental love/advice/guidance: 6 (32%)
Crime/robbery: 5 (26%)
Health problems and poor healthcare: 5 (26%)
Poor sanitation: 4 (21%)
Early pregnancy: 4 (21%)
School drop outs: 4 (21%)
Insecurity:4 (21%)
Lack of sanitary pads: 3 (16%)
Prostitution: 3 (16%)
Lack of places to study: 3 (16%)
Sexual abuse/rape: 3 (16%)
Poor housing infrastructure: 2 (11%)
Lack of exposure to people and places outside Kibera: 2 (11%)
Low self-esteem: 2 (11%)
Early/forced marriage: 2 (11%)
Stigma about being from Kibera: 2 (11%)
Lack of moral values: 2 (11%)
Other responses: Inadequate capital to start businesses, child labor, lack of knowledge of life skills, lack of places to share your problems/express yourself

 

How Uweza is helping youth overcome these challenges:

Provides educational costs/reduces school drop outs: 14 (74%)
Keeps children/youth busy so they avoid harmful behaviors: 7 (37%)
Teaches how to avoid peer pressure/make good decisions: 7 (37%)
Nurtures talents: 6 (32%)
Guiding/counseling services and life skills: 6 (32%)
Healthcare assistance/good sanitation: 4 (21%)
Exposure to people and places outside of Kibera: 4 (21%)
Provides safe place to live/basic needs: 4 (21%)
Improves self-esteem and social skills: 4 (21%)
Provides sanitary pads: 4 (21%)
Keeps girls safe: 4 (21%)
Job creation/income-generating activities: 3 (16%)
Helps children/youth discover their career: 3 (16%)
Provides a listening ear/encourages self expression: 2 (11%)
Other responses: Provides business loans, Encourages parents to take care of children, Feeding program/prevents hunger, Reduces crime 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Read some of the responses by clicking on the photos below:

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