Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) has launched a new community centre in Kadibo Sub-County, Kisumu County, in a bid to scale up empowerment programmes targeting women and youth in the rural areas.
The facility is equipped with a library, a tailoring unit, a gender office, a community hall, and a computer laboratory, offering diverse services to enhance skills and provide economic opportunities for local residents.
Chief Executive Officer, SHOFCO, Dr. Kennedy Odede, speaking during the launch, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to creating opportunities that promote economic stability among young people and women.
“We need to equip them for the job market, prepare them to do business, and make them become people who can be the voice of reason within society,” Dr. Odede said.
The Kadibo Centre, he added, will provide resources such as library services, women empowerment programs, community halls, and gender offices.
With 35 community centers across Kenya, SHOFCO is at the forefront of addressing challenges facing youth in the informal settlements and semi-rural areas across Kenya.
Dr. Odede was joined by Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who lauded the initiative, describing it as transformative for the region.
She noted that her office is committed to partnering with established community centers like Kadibo to scale up financial literacy training programmes and access to startup capital for the marginalised groups.
“We have worked closely with SHOFCO to implement development activities in the region. The launch of the Kadibo Community Centre is a game changer, offering numerous empowerment opportunities,” Odinga remarked.
She promised to donate sewing machines and computers to expand the tailoring and digital literacy programmes at the centre, ensuring more community members benefit.
The National Government Affirmative Action Fund, Odinga emphasized, has set aside funds to be distributed to registered youth and women groups in the area after undergoing financial literacy training to better utilise the money for sustainable business ventures.
By Robert Ojwang’
