The Ag. DVC (Administration and Finance), Prof. Paul M. Gachanja, represented the Vice Chancellor in the Closeout Ceremony for Rise Forward Initiative (YOVENCO) in Berbera, Somaliland.
Rise Forward Initiative is led by Jamal Nuh, an alumnus of the Education Changemakers (ECM) Programme Cohort 2. His initiative, funded by the Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) through Kenyatta University – Regional Leadership Centre East Africa (RLC–EA) aims to encourage girls’ education in Berbera by establishing a Community Learning Centre (CLC), shifting parental and community perceptions, and directly supporting the enrolment and sustained participation of 20 out-of-school girls.
With the support of the TNF Grant and Kenyatta University, Rise Forward Initiative has achieved the following:
- A project work plan and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan were developed to guide implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
- Recruited and trained project volunteers, creating a community-level implementation structure.
- A suitable venue for training and awareness sessions was secured, and essential implementation materials were procured.
- Community outreach and door-to-door identification were conducted, and 20 vulnerable girls were identified for school enrolment and educational support.
- The first parental awareness session was completed, with 18 sessions planned in total.