Hawkers Market Girls Centre (HMGC) is a community based organisation that works in partnership with other organizations to enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential by providing them with both vocational and life skills.

The girls who come to the center are from the slums surrounding the city of Nairobi. In the slums there is no fresh water, no space and no sanitation. HMGC is there home away from home. HMGC provides safe water, free food and free education. HMGC has dedicated mentors who love, care and support the girls.

The girls who have passed through this center have responsible jobs, are educating their siblings have moved to better living conditions and some have come back to mentor other girls in turn.

ABOUT

The Hawkers Market Girls Centre is a Community Based Organization that was started 1996 to help women earn a living from composting. At the same time we offered education and vocational training to girls aged 16-22 years who are unable to access formal education.

To date HMGC has relied on well wishers to  enable girls to receive free food and free eductation.

Our mission is to empower young women to become potential and responsible industrious women of the world. We create opportunity for self development through providing vocational and life skills training in partnership with other organizations. 

The Center is a ‘Learn and Earn’ Centre where each girl is able to learn a skill that gives her an income generating skill which will take her family out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
Each girl enrolled in the program is encouraged to open a savings account in order to promote the culture of saving. At the same time they learn how to fillforms and manage their own accounts.

Our key obligations are to: 

1. Reach out and train disadvantaged young women, build their self esteem and empower them with knowledge through our capacity building programs
2. Attach the young women enrolled in the program to mentorship programs
3. Be a resource center for the young women and the community by ensuring data collection and database systems are in place and are well managed
4. Teach the young women values and develop their entrepreneurial, social and Life skills
5. Promote social awareness and understanding of young women in Kenya
6. Contribute to the development and economic empowerment process of young women in Kenya
7. Afford opportunities for young women to:
   • Join other institutions upon graduation from the centre
   • Be employed and self employed
8. Influence donors and other institutions nationally and internationally to support the project

HMGC TRAINING CURRICULUM

The current curriculum at the HMGC is a practical one year course which equips young women with the skills needed to provide for themselves and their family; as well as preparing them for furthering their education among other future possibilities.

The main components of the HMGC curriculum include:

Life Skills, Literacy and Health

Life Skills Training and Literacy:
Cooking, Reading, Writing, English, Kiswahili, Accounts, Leadership

Reproductive Health Training:
Sex education, HIV/AIDS education

Health and Nutrition:
Food and Nutrition, Sports and Yoga

Spirituality:
Art of living for social conscience, Inner peace, Meditation

Girl Guiding:
As part of the Kenya Girl Guide Association, the students benefit from a life long sisterhood, improved self esteem, and a greater sense of self worth.

Vocational Training

Computer Technology:
Computer use, Typing

Income Generating Skills:
Sewing, Knitting, Catering, Hair dressing, Entrepreneurship education

Entrepreneurship and creating employment:
Elementary principles of business, Financial literacy, Marketing, Customer service essentials
 

Environmental Studies

Making solar cookers and briquettes, Alternative sources of energy, Harvesting water, Growing food

For those who have completed the program, successful employment has been found as cashiers, hairdressers, waiters, and with the Girl Guide Association. The Centre tries to keep track of the girls once they complete the program, and graduates occasionally return to the Centre to provide the new participants with inspiration and motivation.

PRODUCTS

As part of the “Learn and Earn” training the girls do tailoring, sewing, handicrafts, beadwork and gift items. Some of the things we make are casual bags, aprons and oven gloves. We also make nacklaces and gift item which are custom made. Increased production will enable the girls to stay on at the centre and work there.

MORE INFOMATION

for more infomation on the Hawkers MArket Girl Centre and their products visit :

www.girlscentre.com