Youth Challenge Network (YOCHAN)

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF YOCHAN

Yochan is a voluntary community based youth organization which operates in Kayole, Matopeni and Kwa- nguruwe slums of Nairobi-Eastland District – Embakasi division of the country Kenya. Our groups started in the year 2003 and got registered in the same year in June, by the ministry of culture and social services. Our main goal at the time of inception was to address the key challenges facing the young people within our community (kayole, matopeni and kwa- nguruwe slums) .The challenges we identified as poverty, unemployment and h.i.v/a.i.ds. We have since been able to have a membership of 16 members-9males and7 females who are drawn from diverse ethnic background since we are located in a cosmopolitan setting within an urban centre.

As time went by, we realized that there are other needs in our community which calls for serious intervention i.e., the plight of orphans and vulnerable children. In addition, early in the year 2008, when our beloved country was polarized due to post –election violence our work was adversely affected, as such, we felt the need to come up with a peace building, reconciliation and conflict management initiative in order to promote harmony and a peaceful co-existence between members of different ethnic communities living within our community. The same initiative was also meant to address the plight of I.D.Ps-internally displaced who migrated into our community and the vulnerable children. We have been able to work closely with other actors in our community to ensure success in our operations these include; the opinion leaders, youth groups; women groups and the local government admnistrators.

MISSION: “To empower and support needy youths who are challenged, for a sustainable and integrated development.”

VISION: To be the best organization, that improves the living standards of our community members spiritually, economically and socially.