Royal Melodies Society

The funds from the prize with be used to support the youth mentorship program which I currently run in the following ways:

1.Establish live music recording and performance studio for youth engagement

2.Support establishment of small businesses for the mentees who graduate from our mentorship center.

3.Build and  equip a mentorship centre that will support the youth from the slums of Obunga and Manyatta.

We exist to provide an exciting platform for the youth from very poor backgrounds to rediscover their potentials and talents through mentorship where we equip them with essential life skills, shape their behavior and character through the word of God and thereafter support them to start up micro enterprises as a source of livelihood. Alongside this we provide them with training on varied music instruments of choice, this supports their learning and creativity.

Once they have been trained in music the youth form a band and we organize regular concerts where they have an opportunity to showcase their learnt skills in music. 

what we intend to achieve through the program

1.Create engagement opportunity for the disadvantaged youth in the slums of Kisumu, reduce  youth unemployment which will go along way in reducing crime rates in slums,unwanted pregnancies' and drug abuse.

2.Enhance youth creativity and talent development through music

3.Improve the capacity of the youth to compete effectively for opportunities through the life skills training and also give hope and empowerment to the poor families by supporting establishment of the microenterprise.

In the analysis of crime escalation and secondary school dropout rate within the
Kenyan Context, Mudege et al. (2013) and Droulet, (2007) found out that, 54 percent
of dropouts who engaged in criminal activities were aged between 16 to 22. 
According to the Kenya Police Department 2006 in Statistical abstract (2013) highest
incidences of offences reported over the five years are alcohol and drug abuse,
stealing, break-ins and robbery which contributed 65%, 25%, 17% and 15%respectively of all offences reported to police stations with 57% having an economic motive.

Most youths in slums of Obunga and Manyatta lack the skills needed for employment and this results to having, so many unemployed youth in our community, which results to high crime rate, insecurity and other vices. This is a clear indication that there is a need for skills identification empowerment or improvement of existing skills to increase youth employability.

Royal Melodies society offers the following programs to address the problems highlighted above:

1.Life skills empowerment training

2.Mentorship

3.Employment and entrepreneurial skill support 
 4.Music skills training

We make use of music to make the learning for the youth exciting, this keeps them engaged in the program and as well enhances their creativity.The music program has created an automatic engagement opportunity during the mentoring period, it makes the youth breakoff from idleness that creates an avenue for their involvement in crime.

Our program takes advantage of the network with local SMEs where we link the youth for attachment and engagement to learn entrepreneurial skills and also earn little income during the internship get begin their own enterprises.

1.Mentorship 

Our mentoring provides the youth with the support and guidance they need to lead productive lives. The youth who are mentored, were more likely to report engaging in productive and beneficial activities than youth without a mentor.
These activities translate into the higher self-esteem and self-confidence that are
necessary traits for youth to engage in teamwork and community work.

2.Life skills

The dramatic changes in global economies over the past five years have been matched with the transformation in technology and these are all impacting on the workplace and our home life. To cope with the increasing pace and change of modern life, young people need new life skills such as the ability to deal with stress and frustration.Our program supports the youth to relate well with others in the society, cope with pressure, solve problems through critical thinking and enhances their creativity.

3.Music training

The program supports engagement for the youth, it helps breaks idleness, stress and enhances the youth creativity.

4.Business skills support and work skills

The exposure to the real business and work environment builds the youth confidence to start their own ventures. They have an opportunity to learn how to relate in a work environment.