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Creating Opportunities Through Decoration Skills On 12 October 2026, Rare Vrienden officially launched a new decoration skills training programme in Kilifi, opening up opportunities for both young men and women to develop practical, marketable skills. Participants will learn how to create flowers and coordinated floral arrangements, design podiums, organise seating arrangements and decorate event spaces. The training also covers client relations, helping participants understa

At Rare Vrienden, empowerment is at the heart of what we do. Our work in Kilifi is not about supporting one particular sector. It is about helping people and communities gain the knowledge, skills, opportunities and connections they need to build more secure and sustainable futures. Agriculture is one of the ways in which that can happen. On Monday, 28 September, Rare Vrienden brought together agricultural practitioners and partners at Silver Palm, Kilifi, to explore practica

Sometimes the most important changes in a community project are the ones that are hardest to measure. You can count chickens. You can record eggs, income and expenses. But how do you measure a woman becoming more confident in managing an opportunity, or beginning to see a small poultry project as something she can build into a livelihood? That is part of what we are seeing in our poultry work with women in Kilifi. Recent visits on 23 and 30 September gave the Rare Vrienden te

24 September 2026 | Kibarani, Kilifi There are moments in a community project when an idea begins to feel less like an experiment and more like something with a future. For the Rare Vrienden team, 24 September was one of those moments. We were pleased to welcome Tourism Board Acting CEO Ms.Nancy Mwangemi, Kilifi County Government, to our Kibarani office for a conversation about community enterprise, tourism, local products and the future of YoCoCo. The visit came at an exciti

In Kilifi, impact can sometimes look like a flock of chickens. Sometimes it looks like a pile of manure. And sometimes, it looks like a basket of freshly harvested vegetables. For Mama Dama, one of the first beneficiaries of our poultry programme in Kilifi, Kenya, it has looked like all three. Her story is one of progress, an unexpected setback, and the determination to start again. It is also a reminder that when we invest in livelihoods, the impact does not always follow th

A few weeks ago, a new chapter began for a group of young women (and men) taking part in the carpentry training through Galfundi. Now, we are beginning to see the first fruits of their hard work. The training started with the basics. Before heading into practical work, the young men and women have been learning about carpentry tools and equipment, how they are used, and the importance of working safely and accurately. They are also learning about measurements and the careful

At Rare Vrienden Foundation, we believe that lasting change begins with opportunity. For the past 18 months, we have been privileged to walk alongside Nyari Mixed Secondary School in Kilifi, building a partnership rooted in hope, education, and a shared vision for a brighter future. What began as support for essential learning resources has steadily grown into something much bigger. Together, we have provided whiteboards for classrooms, school uniforms for students in need, r

Six months ago, the year stretched ahead with endless possibilities. Plans were made. Goals were set. Promises were written down. Now, somehow, we find ourselves in the middle of the year. For many people, this is the point where reality sets in. Some goals have been achieved. Others have been delayed. Unexpected challenges have appeared. Life has happened. Yet, when we look back at the first half of the year, we are reminded of something important: Progress is not always mea

In the daily rhythm of managing community programs, tracking milestones, and aligning project logistics, it is easy to look at community development through the lens of spreadsheets and strategy. But every so often, a single moment arrives that collapses the distance between administrative efforts and human lives, reminding us deeply of why we do this work. Lilian's letter to Jonathan Recently, our Project Lead in Kilifi, Jonathan Mativo, received a handwritten letter from on

At the Rare Vrienden Foundation, we are often credited with changing lives through our education programs. But if you pull back the curtain on any of our success stories, you will find a much simpler truth: we don’t create the miracles. We just back the fiercely dedicated local heroes who do. At Sokoke Primary School, that hero is Madam Rehema, the Deputy Headteacher. Deputy Headteacher Rehema For years, Madam Rehema watched two young girls, Amina and Emmaculate, dominate the

Mixology & Hospitality Training At Rare Vrienden Foundation, empowerment does not end when a beneficiary completes a course. Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to host a Mixology & Hospitality Training event at the Rare Vrienden compound in Kilifi. The training itself was independently organized and facilitated by the hosting company and is not affiliated with Rare Vrienden Foundation. However, we saw it as a valuable opportunity for our beneficiaries — especially the

At the heart of our Empowered Women in Poultry Farming program in Kilifi are women who refuse to settle for survival when growth is possible. Women who remind us that transformation does not always begin with large investments — sometimes, it begins with commitment, discipline, and the willingness to act. One such woman is Anette. March, before the workshop. Anette received her batch of poultry later than most of the women in the program, but from the moment she joined, she s

At the coast, food is more than a meal—it is culture, opportunity, and survival. In Kilifi, the Friends of River Rare Foundation recently hosted a one-week Culinary Arts refresher program for boys from a previous cooking cohort, combining practical kitchen skills with life lessons aimed at preparing them for the realities of work and self-reliance. The refresher came after concerns raised by some of the participants following their graduation and certification. While they had

08/04/2026 was a day defined not just by achievement, but by transformation. The event began with a brief but meaningful gathering, where the different vocational cohorts were introduced—Tiling, Painting, Aluminium Fabrication, and Culinary Arts (Cooking). Each group represented months of discipline, learning, and persistence. What stood before us was not just a collection of trainees, but individuals ready to step into the workforce with real, practical skills. Then came the

These important activities were not routine. It was personal. We opened our doors to the girls during their school holidays—not just to check report cards, but to truly sit with them, listen, and understand where they are in life. Compulsory review of results We looked at their results together, spoke about their challenges, and celebrated their wins. And the truth is, many of them are rising—performing exceptionally well despite the odds stacked against them. There were powe

Over the past two weeks, the Rare Vrienden Poultry Program continued its field engagement across beneficiary sites, focusing on strengthening implementation, monitoring progress, and reinforcing practical livestock management skills among participating women groups. Day 1: Field Inspection Across Poultry Compounds The team, led by the Chairman Eric alongside program staff, conducted a full round of five poultry compounds that had not been visited during the previous Kilifi vi

At Binti Kilimo, our poultry project under the Friends of River Rare initiative is more than just incubating chicks, it is about incubating opportunity . Through hands-on training, our farmers are gaining practical poultry farming skills that are now turning into real income. Each chick hatched represents knowledge applied, livelihoods strengthened, and dignity restored within our community.

In just three months, our new Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Officer, Sandra , has become a cornerstone of our success. This video captures her in action, patrolling the compound and ensuring our poultry projects meet the highest standards of health and safety. Sadra’s meticulous oversight of vaccination protocols and cleanliness has been a game-changer for our project's viability. By maintaining these rigorous standards, she ensures that the chickens distributed to local wom

Breaking Gender Stereotypes in Construction Many girls who join GalFundi have faced school dropout, early pregnancy, or limited employment opportunities. Traditionally, their options were restricted to low-paying informal work. Few imagined they could become professional painters. Today, they are trained in: Surface preparation and finishing Mixing and applying different types of paint Decorative and protective coatings Clean, high-quality interior and exterior painting Clima

How Young Women Are Earning Through Tile Installation in Kilifi In Kilifi County, construction sites have traditionally been seen as spaces for men. Tile installation, in particular, has always been viewed as a technical trade meant for male artisans. But today, young women trained by GalFundi are changing that narrative, and earning from it. Many of the girls who join GalFundi come from vulnerable backgrounds. Some dropped out of school due to early pregnancies. Others face