🎓 Celebrating Our First-Cohort of Graduates!

The Hope for Kenya Slum Adolescents Initiative (HKSAI) proudly held its First Cohort Graduation Ceremony in Laini Saba, Kibera, Nairobi, under the theme “Shaping the Future Together.”

The graduation event brought together students, parents, staff, partners, and community members to celebrate the achievements of our pioneer group of trainees who successfully completed their studies in Computer Operations. It marked not only the end of a learning journey, but the beginning of empowerment, opportunity, and hope for young people from informal settlements.

🎯 Objectives of the Graduation Ceremony

The graduation was guided by clear objectives, which includes:

·         To celebrate the success of our pioneer trainees, recognizing their resilience, determination, and discipline.

·         To inspire graduates to apply their skills in ways that create opportunities for themselves and their communities.

·         To appreciate the invaluable contribution of instructors, staff, parents, and guardians.

·         To demonstrate HKSAI’s commitment to empowering adolescent girls and youth through education, mentorship, and vocational training.

·         To encourage more young people from informal settlements to enroll, learn, and embrace skills that promote innovation, employability, and self-reliance.

🔑 Key Speeches and Messages

Message from Project Officer.

Our project officer Ms. Brenda Robi emphasized that graduation is not the end, but a new beginning, calling on graduates to remain disciplined, committed, and proud of their achievements. She underscored the importance of continuous learning and highlighted organization thematic focus on Education and Health & Wellbeing.

Message from ICT department.

The instructors Ms Eddah Chepkoech and Mr. Wesonga Timothy congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to remain innovative by applying their ICT skills in diverse opportunities such as data entry, graphic design, transcription, digital marketing, and online writing. They reminded the graduates that the knowledge gained at HKSAI is a stepping stone towards creating opportunities, solving challenges, and contributing positively to their communities.

In addition, the instructors urged graduates to visit and engage with platforms such as Ajira Digital — a government-backed program that equips young people with skills to access dignified work online. leveraging Ajira’s training and resources, the graduates can expand their digital careers, compete globally, and position themselves in the growing digital economy.

They further advised the graduates to advance their learning in professional areas like cloud computing, data science, software development, advanced graphic design, and search engine optimization (SEO) to stay competitive in today’s dynamic job market.

·         Parent Representative, Mama Grace expressed her joy and gratitude, recognizing the unique challenges that slum youth face, especially girls. With words of hope and encouragement, they called on graduates to remain prayerful, strong, and determined.

·         Operations Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Agwanda reflected on the symbolic meaning of the certificates, reminding graduates to put their knowledge into practice in homes, businesses, and the community. He encouraged more parents to enroll students in Cosmetology (Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, and Nail Technology) and Computer Operations course emphasized their relevance in today’s economy.

·         African Youth Panel, represented by Ms. Damacline Bonareri Mose and Ms. Veronica Sirima, praised the graduates for their courage and resilience. They reminded the cohort that their training is not just about certificates, but about gaining skills that transform lives and open doors to dignified and fulfilling work.

🌍 Empowering Young Women Through Education

This achievement was made possible through the generous support of our donor, Population Connection. Their investment allowed these young girls to access quality training, build digital skills, and unlock brighter futures — equipping them to economically sustain themselves and their families.

We are deeply grateful for this partnership of life-changing investment in the lives of adolescent girls and youth in communities facing adversity through the power of education.

Highlights of the Day

The event was crowned with a joyful cake-cutting ceremony, accompanied by songs, dance, and cheerful celebration from graduates, staff, and guests. 🎶🎂✨ The moment symbolized unity, collective achievement, and the beginning of new chapters for the graduates. It was a shared expression of pride, hope, and the vibrant spirit of the HKSAI community.

🤝 Partnerships That Made It Possible

The ceremony was enriched by the presence of:

·         African Youth Panel, represented by Ms. Damacline Bonareri Mose and Ms. Veronica Sirima, and Kibera Creative Arts (KICA), who inspired graduates with words of encouragement.

As Organization we also extend our special appreciation to our staffs, whose mentorship, dedication, and guidance were critical to the success of this program and graduates.

✨ Looking Ahead – Call for Enrolment!

Building on this success, HKSAI is pleased to announce that enrolment is now open for the next intake of our vocational training programs:

·         💻 Computer Operations

·         💇‍♀️ Beauty Therapy

·         ✂️ Hairdressing

·         💅 Nail Technology

These programs provide practical, market-driven skills that empower young people to access dignified work, establish self-employment ventures, and become economically independent.

👉 To register or learn more, please visit www.hopeksai.org or contact our offices directly.

📢 Stay Connected

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all partners, donors, staff, and supporters who made this graduation possible. Together, we are celebrating success and building pathways for many more young people to thrive.

✨ Together, we are shaping futures. ✨

👉 Learn more at www.hopeksai.org or Call us +254748432400, Email us info@hopeksai.org