CO-OPERAID and the Vontobel Foundation have a long-standing partnership. From 2022 to 2025, the Foundation is supporting the project "Reintegration and Vocational Training for Youth from the Slums and Streets of Kitale in Kenya," aimed at helping young people transition into independent and autonomous lives.
CO-OPERAID is an independent, nonprofit Swiss aid organization dedicated to the education of particularly needy children and adolescents in Africa and Asia, giving them the opportunity to learn, discover their talents, and develop.
The project "Reintegration and Vocational Training for Youth from the Slums and Streets of Kitale in Kenya" targets young people living in poverty in the city of Kitale. Despite the Kenyan government's efforts to improve education, there still remain significant deficits and needs. For this reason, CO-OPERAID's project supports young women and men in their transition to vocational training, helping them on the path to an independent and autonomous life. Since 2018, a proven approach combining methods borrowed from social work with a dual vocational training model based on the Swiss system has achieved positive results.
CO-OPERAID's project for youth aims to achieve the following goals:
- Reintegration into a stable social structure
- Dual vocational and business competencies training
- Integration into the workforce
- Raising awareness among authorities about dual training models
By developing their abilities and talents, youth in the region around Kitale in western Kenya can break free from poverty, build a better future for themselves and their families, and provide essential services to their communities.
"We are giving young people in Kenya the opportunity to shape their own future. This CO-OPERAID project shows that people succeed who seize opportunity."
Dr. Ignaz Rieser, President, CO-OPERAID
"This innovative project is impressive, with an entrepreneurial approach that empowers people to lead autonomous lives."
Dr. Martin Sieg Castagnola, Board Member, Vontobel Foundation