Easter Reflections: Small Investments, Visible Change in Coastal Kenya

Dear all,

I hope this finds you well. I just returned from a 10-day visit to our Rare Vrienden Foundation (www.rarevrienden.org) in Kilifi, on Kenya’s coast.

Alongside some Easter moments on the Indian Ocean with our Kenyan friends,

we spent most of our time visiting a number of our ongoing programs.

We met rural women involved in our poultry project, opened a computer classroom at Nyari High School,

and connected with girls in our high school sponsorship program.

One of the highlights was a small ceremony where certificates were presented to participants who completed our vocational training courses.

The training focused on painting, tiling, and aluminium sliding window fabrication—skills not typically associated with women in this context.

Each course includes around 20 participants, runs for up to two months, and is led by a professional instructor. The participants are mostly young women in their twenties, often with limited opportunities beyond household work.

Some time after completion, we now see that a number of them are generating income from these skills.

Why we do what we do

What stands out, however, is not only the income. It is the sense of empowerment. The recognition from family, neighbours, and peers. There is a visible shift in how they are perceived—and how they see themselves.

The participants have organised themselves into a group called GalFundi—a combination of “gal” and fundi, the Swahili word for skilled woman artisan. They operate as a network, sharing opportunities and supporting each other. Some are already in high demand, which in turn creates room for others in the group.

From an economic perspective, the vocational training shows clear leverage. At an average cost of around €2,000 per course, approximately 10–12 participants move into partial or full income generation.

Still small in scale, but indicative of what is possible.

There is a clear lack of this type of targeted, practical funding, while the impact is tangible.

Coastal Kenya is often associated with its beaches, coconut trees, and overall natural beauty. The reality inland is different, with widespread poverty and underemployment.

Our experience shows that opportunities are there. With relatively modest investments, meaningful change can be realised.