YOUTH ACTION RURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT working together for sustainable development

INTRODUCTION Youth Action for Rural Development (YARD) is a Community Based Organization in Gatanga District in Central Province of Kenya. YARD was officially registered with the government the year 2002. We are approximately 15 km to the Northwest of Thika and 55 km from Nairobi. YARD office is located at Mabanda Trading Center. working together for sustainable development

YARD GOAL OUR MISSION YARD VISION To contribute in the improvement of quality of life for the youth and community in general for sustainable and quality livelihood through concerted efforts. OUR MISSION Contribute towards sustainable livelihood for young people and the Community through empowerment , talent utilization and capacity Building. YARD VISION A situation where young people are recognized in the society and that their talents and strengths are fully utilized for their own good and that of the community in general and hence move towards sustainable development. working together for sustainable development

MOTTO CORE VALUES Working together for sustainable development Efficient service delivery for all Transparency and Accountability The best interest of the Community working together for sustainable development

OUR OBJECTIVES To identify, develop and utilize their skills and talents for income generation (purposes) with the goal of becoming self reliant; To become aware of sexually transmitted infections with a special emphasis in HIV/AIDS through awareness creation and campaigns; To play a leading role in environmental rehabilitation, preservation and conservation To improve their entrepreneurship, leadership and managerial skills to enable them run viable income generating projects; To enhance food Security in the community through sustainable food production techniques; To increase access to appropriate information and stimulate the exchange of valuable knowledge and experiences amongst the community members working together for sustainable development

Main Development Areas 1. Training and Extension Gatanga Homebased Food Security and Nutrition Indigenous food Project Bio-intensive Agriculture (BIA) Kenya UN joint Program of support on HIV/AIDS Seeds for Africa project 2. Social Economic livelihood Small farmers Marketing Assistance Project (SFMAP) Sustainable Entrepreneurship promotion program (SEPP) 3. Vulnerable children support program Gatanga Integrated Home based children support project-AED/CAP KENYA The Sherman Family foundation stewardship project Out of Afrika (OOA) Child fund 4. ICT Community Resource Centre and Library Attachment/Internship Volunteers working together for sustainable development

Geographical working areas Gatanga District Kandara District Thika West Kiambu - Kikuyu Division working together for sustainable development

Implementation Training and Extension Training of farmers on Sustainable Agriculture. Training of farmers on ecological production, processing and value addition, preservation and marketing of indigenous foods On-Farm training on kitchen gardens, soil improvements, crop protection etc Purchase of assorted seeds for planting/ sowing (Indigenous preferable) HIV/AIDS Education. Farm visits to monitor progress of the trained farmers. Training of farmers on efficient water utilization and how to use the bucket /drip irrigation kits. Organize and conduct field/group level training within the focal area. Purchase of bee-keeping equipments, poultry (local cockerels & eggs), rabbits and dairy goats) for Upgrading of the local goats for more milk and income and replication of small livestock e.g. rabbits Provision of Psycho Social Support (PSS) working together for sustainable development

2. Social Economic Livelihood (Savings and Credit Project) Group Mobilization Training groups in entrepreneurship, leadership and management. Organizing and conducting group monthly meetings Marketing of farm produce Documentation of financial transactions Loan disbursement and loan follow-ups working together for sustainable development

3. Orphans and Vulnerable Children Sponsoring students in school through fees payment, provision of school uniform and sanitary towels for girls. support on provision of life skill development through planned trainings Sponsoring youth out of school in vocational training and life skills development Training guardians on different farming techniques on sustainable agriculture and income generating activities Training guardians of supported youth on entrepreneurial skills, managerial skills, leadership skills, business planning, business management, HIV AIDs, life skills Disbursing information on HIV and AIDS prevention and mitigation through home visits, school visits, and training at group level. Training of community resource persons on issues related to HIV/AIDS, provision of psychosocial support and paralegal issues working together for sustainable development

Information Computer Technology (ICT) A functioning Community Resource Centre and Library in place that act as a hub for sourcing information targeting the surrounding community. Attachment/Internship Students from various institutions attached to respective projects for exposure. Volunteers program Involving volunteers(both local and international) who bring a positive change in lives of the community by getting involved in YARD projects. working together for sustainable development

Students studying in the Gatanga Library and resource centre ICT class in session Students supported by Sherman Family Foundation Stewardship Project Schools in FS& N involved in the environmental programme working together for sustainable development

Farmers workshop held by SFMAP a project within in YARD Food Security and Nutrition Capacity Building workshop held for group leaders Farmers workshop held by SFMAP a project within in YARD Group women making maendeleo jiko on energy conservation Group women trained on multi storey garden working together for sustainable development

2.5 Total Number of Beneficiaries FS & N - 3690 Sherman - 360 SEPP/SFMAP - 2113 ICT - 79 Gatanga Integrated Home based children - 2390 BIA - 400 Indigenous food project - 540 Kenya UN joint Program of support on HIV/AIDS - 600 Total No. Beneficiaries = 10,172 037 working together for sustainable development

OUR TARGET Youth and Children in school Youth out of school Guardians OVC. PLWHAs Community groups-Women, men and youth groups. Farmers

Collaborators/partners Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Livestock and fisheries Ministry of Gender, children and social Development Out of Africa-Education Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) –Education Kilili Self help-USA Bio intensive agriculture Ewh-Germany-Sustainable Agriculture Christian Children’s Fund (CCF)-OVCs support Peace Corps-Kenya-Volunteer placement Gatanga CDF-Community resource center Shine on.org Aed/CAP-Kenya –OVC support/institutional strengthening. Pelum Kenya _ Capacity building and Indigenous food project. Amistad foundation-Livelihoods improvement. FAO Kenya Seeds for Africa Slow food

Programme Mgt and Technical YARD STRUCTURE Board of Trustees-BOT Programme Manager Programme Mgt and Technical Team Training & Extensions Food Security and Nutrition Indigenous Food Project Bio-Intensive Agriculture (BIA) Dept. Manager Social Economic Livelihood SFMAP/SEPP Vulnerable children support program Gatanga home - Based children support project Sherman Project Dept. manager ICT Sensitization/Aware-ness Community resource centre and library Campaign ,ICT, publications Attachment/internship volunteering Finance Administration Office Accounts Stores Finance Manager Administration manager Communities’ i.e., farmers, schools, OVC, youth, women, smallholder farmers, small entrepreneurs, guardians