Slum children and women in Nakuru will from March this year receive free life saving skills training, courtesy of an International Non-Governmental Organisation.
Bondeni Youth and Menengai Women Group will collaborate with African Genesis Foundation to train Primary, Secondary and other youths and young women in Bondeni Kivumbini and Kanyon slums to attain life saving skills to empower them and help face many socio-economic challenges encountered in the slums.
According to Bondeni Women Group Chairlady Sabina Muraya, the project will involve various professionals and informal sector personalities and organisations who will train different groups of youths and women in part time sessions in schools, churches, social halls and even homes.
Talking to this writer during a sensitisation forum at Menengai Social Hall in Bondeni today (Saturday), Muraya, a retired nurse, said that life saving skills will include; self defence tactics, fire fighting skills, swimming, rescue and first aid skills, family counselling, public health skills and small scale entrepreneurship.
“We will involve various stakeholders from local professionals and informal sectors who will facilitate the training programme. We are aware that many informal settlements face many challenges that can be mitigated through life saving skills mentorship, said Muraya.
She added that Africa Genesis Foundation had agreed to sponsor the project to a tune of Sh5 million following the approval of a proposal the two Community Based Organisations submitted.
She asserted that many cases of rape, robbery, fire accidents, poverty, abortion, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect among others against children and women are rampant in slum areas within Nakuru, adding that such unbecoming acts needed to be mitigated through such projects.