BACKGROUND.

The Rays of Hope Initiative is a youth led community based organization situated in Rironi; a pre-urban village in central province, Limuru District. Limuru has a very unique history dating from the pre-colonial independence. Due to its high altitude, fertile soils and closeness to the built up infrastructure (leading in and out of Nairobi city centre and other parts of the country), it became the appropriate choice for settlement by the colonialists and missionaries in pre-independence Kenya. The indigenous communities were pushed to marginal lands through land consolidation and colonial policies. Each family was allocated an average of 2acre land for their subsistence farming and housing use.
Over 50 years later, population pressure has led to massive land subdivision living a maximum of 0.5 acre land for all possible uses. In a predominately farming community, limited alternative sources of income, poor land use practices and lack of proper mentorship and motivation has rendered the community extremely poor. This is well seen in the lens of the young people who after their secondary school levels, majorities do not advance their education and apathy has turned them to alcohol consumption. Consequently, reduced labour, increasing poverty and insecurity is evident in a community that depends on peasant farming and competitive employment opportunities in Nairobi city. Factually, a generation between 24-31years has been lost to these vices.
Through the work of the Rays of Hope Initiative over the four years of existence, fueling factors have been found to be lack of active role models and subsequent lack of motivation to young people creating no clear cut right way that can be emulated. While older generations have been successful, disconnection between the ages creates a challenge and only little can be done by them.

ABOUT,’ BUY A TREE AND MENTOR A YOUTH’, PROGRAM.

‘BUY ATREE MENTOR A YOUTH’, is a program of the Rays of Hope Initiative developed specifically to enhance social responsibility from community members within and without to tackle local issue of concern i.e. education, irresponsibility and apathy. Inspired by the plight of many young people such as drugs and substance abuse, consumption of illicit liquor and unwilling inception into illegal sects such as the Mungiki and lack of role models and motivation, it aims to integrate both social and environmental responsibility among young people in the community through continuous education and mentor ship. It targets a youth age group between 11years and 23years who are school going or recently out of school.
The program will provide a much needed solution to tackling education among other aspects of development in the community. This is by engaging young people who have just concluded school to give back their time and knowledge to other younger people in or out of school. It will offer an environment where out of school youth can understand the dynamics of life through interaction and creative projects that will be geared towards community growth.
‘BUY A TREE MENTOR A YOUTH’, will offer a strategic mentorship program to local primary school to link generations at different levels and with different capacities to working together. The team will identify role models within the community who will constantly participate to encourage pupils on the need for good values and hard work.
The program literally aims at turning the initiative’s name into reality. Basically, it focuses on two major objectives:
• Providing a platform for youth led development that gives young people variable skills such as project management and teamwork thus boosting their ability to acquire jobs and actively participate in society.
• Enhancing strategic motivation and mentoring of young people in school and out of school through incentives in education and economic empowerment.

Problem

young children need role model who they can emulate in life.these lacks in a poor community in kenya's central highland.buy a tree mentor a child is a program that has been established by five young people who have a dream for a better community.the needs of this children is some one to lean on and the program offers that.the program need resource volunteers to finances.being in a school setting it has established tree nurseries that they sell and two thirds of the amount collected is directed to mentor ship and attitude changing programs the rest is used to sustain the program.