Power for the People

The Arise Centre kitchen now has fully functioning running water after Water Engineering trainees successfully connected the Centre's main water tank to the kitchen under the direct supervision of their trainer. The newly connected kitchen sink, now supplied with running water following the trainees' installation. Every trainee played an active role in the installation, gaining practical, hands-on experience while contributing to an improvement that will benefit the Centre ev

Supporting young people means looking beyond education and skills development. It also means creating safe spaces where they feel heard, supported and able to talk openly about the challenges they face. With this in mind, Powering Dreams recently facilitated a Counselling and Focus Group Engagement at the PFP ARISE Centre. The session brought students together to explore topics including mental well-being, relationships, financial pressures, and academic resilience in a safe

Caregivers and children during the three-day capacity- building programme. From 20 to 22 May, we welcomed ten caregivers to a three-day capacity-building training under our Back to School, Back to Hope Programme, equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills needed to give children a healthier, safer and more hopeful start in life. Led by experts from the Ministry of Health, the Children's Department, and the Environment and Conservation Office, the training gave car

In June 2026, our Innovations and Partnerships Manager, Caren Okombo and Programmes Manager (East Africa), Betty Achieng, joined hundreds of policymakers, researchers, donors, implementers and young people at the 9th RHNK Pan-African Adolescent & Youth SRHR Scientific Conference in Mombasa. A panel session at the 9th RHNK Pan-African Adolescent and Youth SRHR Scientific Conference in Mombasa. The conference provided a powerful platform for learning, collaboration and reflecti

When the Olobelibel community borehole was officially opened in March, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for the community. After years of water scarcity, families finally had access to a reliable, locally managed source of clean water. Three months later, we are beginning to see how improved water access is supporting daily life and creating new opportunities for households across the community. Vegetable plots cultivated using water from the community borehole Reliab

Pilot Distribution of Arise Maternity Packs at Tom Mboya Level 4 Hospital Last month, we delivered 15 Arise Maternity Packs to Tom Mboya Level 4 Hospital and conducted a training session with Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses on the use and care of the packs. The hospital purchased the packs as part of a pilot initiative aimed at supporting mothers and encouraging facility-based deliveries. As part of the arrangement, the hospital will refer mothers who express interest

Launch of the Multisectoral Action Plan for Young People’s Health Stakeholders at the Homa Bay Adolescent Symposium in Homa Bay County Back in April, Power for the People took part in the Adolescent Symposium hosted by the County Government of Homa Bay. At the symposium, the Homa Bay Multisectoral Action Plan for Adolescents and Young People’s Health was officially launched. The event brought together a range of stakeholders working in adolescent and youth well-being, and inc

At the Arise Centre, waste management is built into every course as a core module rather than being taught as a stand-alone topic. The approach is practical and tailored to each department, helping students understand how waste management connects directly to their chosen field. Each course applies waste management in a way that fits its own practice, from the safe disposal of chemicals and packaging in Beauty Therapy, to energy-efficient cooking, composting, and responsible

At the Arise Centre, the garden is more than just a place where vegetables grow. It is a living classroom where students build practical skills through hands-on learning. It currently grows kale, lemongrass, and a range of indigenous vegetables, and students are actively involved in both planting and maintaining the space, making it a regular part of their practical training and day-to-day learning. An image of trainees planting vegetables in the Arise Centre garden In additi

How Solar Energy Powers Every Part of the Arise Centre Since 2022, the Arise Centre has been fully powered by solar energy, following the installation of a mini-grid system with battery storage. This transition has made a significant difference to daily operations, providing a stable and reliable source of electricity that supports everything the Centre does. An image of the solar panels at the Arise Centre As a result, all activities on site now run on solar power. This incl

Health threats don’t respect borders. Stopping them means going to the source. Our new film, developed in collaboration with Health Workers for Development, Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET), PFP Africa Trust (our sister charity), and the Homa Bay County Department of Health, tells the story of the UK–Kenya health partnership working to break the cycle of new HIV infections. In parts of Kenya, gender-based violence and teenage pregnancy are contributing to one of the

The Reintegration of Teen Mothers into Education Over the past month, we held a two-day counselling session for young mothers focused on supporting their reintegration back into education. The sessions were led by Ministry of Health counsellors and nurses, with parents and caregivers also taking part. Together, they created a safe space for the young mothers to openly discuss the challenges they face and the support they need as they rebuild their lives and prepare to return

At the Arise Centre in Mbita, we are developing an aeroponics-based agricultural programme designed to respond to the growing challenges of food production in Rusinga, where arid conditions and degraded soils continue to make conventional farming difficult. Aeroponics is a soil-free farming method that uses a nutrient-rich mist instead of soil. It uses significantly less water and produces more food in a smaller growing space. For the Arise Centre, this offers a practical way

Last month, we shared a blog post about bamboo propagation at the Arise Centre, where trainees took part in a practical session as part of the Environmental Conservation and Climate Resilience module. We are now excited to share an update on what has happened since then. Of the 60 bamboo seedlings propagated, 47 have survived, resulting in a 78% success rate. For an early-stage activity, this is a strong result and reflects the trainees’ growing confidence and hands-on learni

Building Skills, Building Futures Calvince Omondi Frank, a 29-year-old Kenyan citizen, joined the PFP Arise Centre to train in Water Engineering (Pipe Fitter Level 3) with the goal of gaining practical skills and building a more secure future. Before joining the programme, Calvince worked as a boda boda operator in Mbita and Rusinga, earning less than KES 10,000 per month (around £55). Seeking more stable opportunities, he enrolled at the Arise Centre to develop skills in pip

In February, trainees at the PFP Arise Centre took part in a practical session on bamboo propagation as part of the Environmental Conservation and Climate Resilience module. Trainees taking part in the practical session on bamboo propagation. Bamboo was selected because it is both climate-resilient and environmentally friendly. It is also well-suited to the conditions at the Arise Centre, where there is access to water to support its growth. The session focused on giving trai