Vocational Skills & Training

Vocational Training:

Skills for Dignity and Independence

What began as a small effort to empower young women through hands-on training has grown into a movement embraced across Kilifi County. The initiative has gained remarkable traction—so much so that it’s now being adopted in other communities. A key milestone is our new partnership with the well-known Imarika Foundation in Kilifi. Together, we’ve launched a paint renovation project at Vipingo Secondary School, known as the Wezesha Vijana Initiative.

The once worn-down school building has been scrubbed, repaired, and repainted by the vibrant Galfundi team, now proudly made up of both boys and girls. What started as a women-centered training program has evolved in response to community demand—becoming more inclusive while staying true to its mission of empowerment through skill.

At Rare Friends Foundation, we understand that education takes many forms. While formal schooling is powerful, hands-on experience can be just as transformative—especially for those who missed out on academic opportunities. From painting and aluminum fabrication to tiling, we’ve trained dozens of young people to earn, build, and grow in dignity.

Take Tina, for example. She joined Galfundi as a trainee in our early days, eager but uncertain. Today, she stands as the lead trainer, guiding new cohorts and overseeing the Vipingo project. Her journey from student to leader embodies what empowerment truly means—confidence built through skill, and success shared through mentorship.

The success of this initiative led the women to give their group a name of their own—Galfundi, which translates to Skilled Woman Worker. What began as a nickname is now a registered company. With this formal recognition, they’ve begun applying for larger-scale contracts and accessing empowerment grants once beyond reach.

Our commitment to inclusion extends beyond this single program. From the Galfundi workshops to Rare Friends Foundation’s cooking classes that welcome both boys and girls, we continue to create spaces where youth can learn, grow, and find purpose through skill.

This is not just about financial uplift—though that matters deeply. It’s about restoring dignity, strengthening communities, and proving that skill, passion, and purpose know no gender.

When you support this program, you’re helping unlock opportunities. You’re investing in youth who are ready to build, lead, and redefine what’s possible for themselves and those around them.