CRS LAUNCHES KSh104 MILLION GRADUATING GENERATIONS PROJECT FOR ISIOLO'S VULNERABLE FAMILIES

A new livelihood initiative targeting extremely poor households with orphans and vulnerable children has been launched in Isiolo County, with 750 vulnerable families set to benefit from a KSh104 million program aimed at helping them break free from extreme poverty through economic empowerment. The Graduating Generations Project is funded by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and is being implemented by CRS in partnership with Caritas Isiolo and the Isiolo County Government. The project targets beneficiaries in Oldonyiro, Chari, and Bulapesa wards. In the first phase, each of the 750 beneficiary households has received KSh24,000 in seed funding. They will also benefit from entrepreneurship training, financial services, savings group support, livelihood grants, technical skills training, market linkage support, and additional assistance to establish sustainable income-generating activities. The project combines four key interventions: meeting immediate household needs, promoting resilient livelihoods through grants and business training, strengthening financial health through savings groups and financial literacy, and empowering beneficiaries to participate actively in household and community decision-making. The initiative is being implemented in close collaboration with both the national and county governments. Beneficiaries were identified through the Government of Kenya's Single Registry and the Inua Jamii Programme to ensure support reaches the most vulnerable households. The project also complements the government's Cash Transfer Programme for Orphans and Vulnerable Children by providing a pathway to long-term economic independence. CRS Country Manager Margaret Kahiga said the project is designed to equip vulnerable households with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to achieve long-term self-reliance. Speaking during the launch, Isiolo Deputy Governor Dr. James Lowassa welcomed the initiative, saying it would make a significant contribution to reducing poverty in the county, where the poverty rate currently stands at 53 percent. His sentiments were echoed by Lawrence Mwongela, the County Executive Committee Member for Tourism, Trade and Cooperatives, who said the county government would continue offering training and technical support to beneficiaries to ensure they successfully improve their livelihoods. Beneficiaries shared how the assistance has already transformed their lives, giving them renewed hope and a chance to build sustainable livelihoods. The Assistant County Commissioner, representing County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga, urged beneficiaries to use the funds responsibly and invest them wisely so they can maximize the benefits of the program. Through the Graduation Approach, the project seeks to move families out of extreme poverty by providing entrepreneurship training, start-up grants for income-generating activities, linking beneficiaries to markets, and promoting a culture of saving and sound financial management, with the ultimate goal of enabling households to achieve sustainable self-reliance. Project partners say the initiative is expected to improve food security, increase household incomes, strengthen financial resilience, and enable vulnerable families to build sustainable livelihoods beyond the life of the project. #crs #caritas #isiolo #isiolocounty #isiolocountynews #women #youtubeshorts #youtube #trending #trendingshorts