Sustainable Livelihoods
Empowering youth in street situations and caregivers with skills, tools, and opportunities to build stable and dignified sources of income.
Empowering youth in street situations and caregivers with skills, tools, and opportunities to build stable and dignified sources of income.
At Pendekezo Letu, we believe that economic empowerment is essential for building resilient families and protecting vulnerable children and youth. Many of the caregivers and young people we work with face significant barriers to stable income, including limited access to skills training, financial resources, and employment opportunities.
The Sustainable Livelihoods Program supports youth in street situations and caregivers to develop the skills, knowledge and resources needed to build sustainable sources of income. By strengthening economic stability at both the individual and household level, the program helps reduce vulnerability and creates pathways toward long-term independence and dignity.
Our approach combines vocational training, entrepreneurship development, financial inclusion, mentorship and market linkages to ensure Project participants can start and sustain viable livelihood opportunities.
Youth in street situations often lack access to opportunities that would allow them to build stable livelihoods. Pendekezo Letu addresses this challenge through a Youth Empowerment Curriculum that integrates vocational skills training with entrepreneurship development and digital skills. Through this program, young people gain practical skills and guidance that enable them to transition from survival on the streets into productive and dignified livelihoods.
Key components include:
We support youth to access Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, private training centers, and community-based apprenticeships. This hands-on training equips them with practical, market-relevant skills that improve their employability and readiness for work.
Youth are trained in essential entrepreneurship skills to enable them to start and manage small businesses. The training covers business idea development, planning, financial literacy trainings, marketing, customer relations and compliance, empowering them to build and grow viable enterprises
We equip youth with digital literacy and employability skills to enhance access to modern job opportunities, including remote and digital work. These skills also enable young entrepreneurs to effectively use online platforms and social media to market their products and services. The digital sills also play a key part in development of CVs, cover letter and in job search and application especially for the vocational trainee after completion of training.
Youth benefit from ongoing mentorship and career guidance from experienced professionals. This continuous support helps them set goals, solve challenges, enhance their work ethics and confidently transition into employment or entrepreneurship while ensuring the jobs are sustained.
Based on assessed needs and business plans, selected youth receive start-up support such as tools, equipment, raw materials or small grants. This helps reduce barriers to entry in formal employment and supports growth of individual sustainable enterprises.
We strive to connect youth to internships, apprenticeships and job opportunities, while also linking entrepreneurs to viable markets for their products and services. Through strong partnerships and networking, we support their transition into decent work and long-term economic independence.
Caregivers play a critical role in the wellbeing and protection of children and youth. However, many face economic challenges that limit their ability to support their families. Pendekezo Letu strengthens caregiver resilience through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) combined with business training and mentorship. These groups enable caregivers to save regularly, access small loans, and invest in income-generating activities that improve household stability.
Program interventions include: Formation and strengthening of VSLA groups, Savings and internal lending among members, financial literacy and business management training, Mentorship and peer support and Support to start or grow small businesses
