What began as a simple gathering space for children’s books is now a multi-pronged skills and empowerment hub, primarily serving young women and youth. With SHOFCO’s support, the group has expanded its reach and deepened its impact—becoming a blueprint for how locally rooted solutions can address some of Kenya’s most entrenched urban challenges.
Many women were facing depression, early pregnancies, and financial instability. They were stuck at home with no source of income. By equipping them with skills, we’re restoring dignity and building a pathway out of poverty.
Inua Rise Together offers a diverse slate of programming—from digital literacy and graphic design to beadwork, crochet, and upcycling glass bottles into flower vases for environmental sustainability. These are more than just vocational trainings; they are lifelines in a community where many young people complete high school but cannot afford to pursue further education.
According to the World Bank, Kenya’s youth unemployment rate remains above 13%, with the informal sector absorbing the vast majority of young workers—often without stability or social protections. In informal settlements like Mathare, these economic pressures exacerbate social challenges, including gender-based violence (GBV), drug abuse, and youth involvement in crime.
Sarah and her team see the linkages every day.
When women begin to earn income, domestic tensions decrease. When young men engage in content creation instead of street crime, we see transformation. With just a smartphone and determination, these young people are learning to design, film, and code. That kind of access changes everything.
The CBO’s approach is holistic. Trainees leave with practical skills, but also a renewed sense of self-worth and purpose. After just four months, many participants walk away equipped with marketable abilities—and the realization that success doesn’t hinge on a university degree.
The Role of SHOFCO
SHOFCO’s CBO program provides more than financial support. It offers capacity-building workshops in leadership, financial management, and grant writing—skills essential for long-term sustainability and impact. “The training we received from SHOFCO in financial reporting and proposal writing has made it possible for us to grow and think bigger,” says Sarah.
SHOFCO supports 180 CBOs across Kenya, investing in community groups as engines of localized change. By equipping grassroots leaders with tools, networks, and institutional support, SHOFCO is building a national movement where community organizations like Inua Rise Together can drive real, scalable solutions from the ground up.
A Vision for the Future
In five years, Sarah hopes that Inua Rise Together will be known across Mathare as a safe haven and opportunity hub—a place where youth find purpose, where GBV and drug abuse decline, and where environmental and social progress go hand in hand.
To the youth of Mathare, Huruma, and Ngei: You don’t have to wait for university or formal jobs. The opportunity to build a future is already here. You just have to choose it.
Each year, we empower 140,000+ community members with Sustainable Livelihoods support
In 2024 alone, SHOFCO-supported CBOs reached over 15,000 people with services ranging from maternal health to livelihoods, and more than 70% of trained partners have since secured additional funding independently. This model is transforming Kenya’s development landscape—by shifting power, amplifying community voices, and building a network of trusted, locally led institutions from the ground up.
