YOUTH ACTION
FOR
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
Youth Action for Rural Development (YARD) is a
Community Based Organization in Gatanga
District in Central Province of Kenya. YARD was
officially registered with the government the year
2002. We are approximately 15 km to the
Northwest of Thika and 55 km from Nairobi. YARD
office is located at Mabanda Trading Center.
YARD GOAL
To contribute in the improvement of quality of life for the youth and
community in general for sustainable and quality livelihood through
concerted efforts.
OUR MISSION
Contribute towards sustainable livelihood for young people and the
Community through empowerment , talent utilization and capacity
Building.
YARD VISION
A situation where young people are recognized in the society and
that their talents and strengths are fully utilized for their own good
and that of the community in general and hence move towards
sustainable development.
MOTTO
Working together for sustainable development
CORE VALUES
Efficient service delivery for all
Transparency and Accountability
The best interest of the Community
To identify, develop and utilize their skills and talents for income
generation (purposes) with the goal of becoming self reliant;
To become aware of sexually transmitted infections with a special
emphasis in HIV/AIDS through awareness creation and campaigns;
To play a leading role in environmental rehabilitation, preservation and
conservation
To improve their entrepreneurship, leadership and managerial skills to
enable them run viable income generating projects;
To enhance food Security in the community through sustainable food
production techniques;
To increase access to appropriate information and stimulate the
exchange of valuable knowledge and experiences amongst the
community members
1. Training and Extension
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Gatanga Homebased Food Security and Nutrition
Indigenous food Project
Bio-intensive Agriculture (BIA)
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Kenya UN joint Program of support on HIV/AIDS
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Seeds for Africa project
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2. Social Economic livelihood
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Small farmers Marketing Assistance Project (SFMAP) Sustainable Entrepreneurship
promotion program (SEPP)
3. Vulnerable children support program
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Gatanga Integrated Home based children support project-AED/CAP KENYA
The Sherman Family foundation stewardship project
Out of Afrika (OOA)
Child fund
4. ICT
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Community Resource Centre and Library
Attachment/Internship
Volunteers
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Gatanga District
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Kandara District
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Thika West

Kiambu
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Kikuyu Division
1.
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Training and Extension
Training of farmers on Sustainable Agriculture.
Training of farmers on ecological production, processing and value
addition, preservation and marketing of indigenous foods
On-Farm training on kitchen gardens, soil improvements, crop
protection etc
Purchase of assorted seeds for planting/ sowing (Indigenous
preferable)
HIV/AIDS Education.
Farm visits to monitor progress of the trained farmers.
Training of farmers on efficient water utilization and how to use the
bucket /drip irrigation kits.
Organize and conduct field/group level training within the focal
area. Purchase of bee-keeping equipments, poultry (local cockerels
& eggs), rabbits and dairy goats) for Upgrading of the local goats for
more milk and income and replication of small livestock e.g. rabbits
Provision of Psycho Social Support (PSS)
2. Social Economic Livelihood
(Savings and Credit Project)
•Group Mobilization
•Training groups in entrepreneurship, leadership and management.
• Organizing and conducting group monthly meetings
• Marketing of farm produce
•Documentation of financial transactions
•Loan disbursement and loan follow-ups
3.
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Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Sponsoring students in school through fees payment,
provision of school uniform and sanitary towels for girls.
support on provision of life skill development through
planned trainings
Sponsoring youth out of school in vocational training and life
skills development
Training guardians on different farming techniques on
sustainable agriculture and income generating activities
Training guardians of supported youth on entrepreneurial
skills, managerial skills, leadership skills, business planning,
business management, HIV AIDs, life skills
Disbursing information on HIV and AIDS prevention and
mitigation through home visits, school visits, and training at
group level.
Training of community resource persons on issues related to
HIV/AIDS, provision of psychosocial support and paralegal
issues
Information Computer Technology (ICT)
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A functioning Community Resource Centre and Library in place that
act as a hub for sourcing information targeting the surrounding
community.
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Attachment/Internship
Students from various institutions attached to respective projects for
exposure.
Volunteers program
Involving volunteers(both local and international) who bring a
positive change in lives of the community by getting involved in
YARD projects.
Students studying in the Gatanga
Library and resource centre
Schools in FS& N involved in the
environmental programme
ICT class in session
Students supported by Sherman
Family Foundation Stewardship
Project
Food Security and Nutrition Capacity
Building workshop held for group leaders
Group women making maendeleo
jiko on energy conservation
Farmers workshop held by SFMAP a
project within in YARD
Group women trained on multi storey
garden
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FS & N
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3690

Sherman
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360

SEPP/SFMAP
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2113

ICT
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79
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Gatanga Integrated
Home based children
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2390

BIA
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400

Indigenous food project
-
540

Kenya UN joint Program
of support on HIV/AIDS

-
Total No. Beneficiaries = 10,172
600
OUR TARGET
Youth and Children in school
Youth out of school
Guardians
OVC.
PLWHAs
Community groups-Women, men and youth groups.
Farmers
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Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Livestock and fisheries
Ministry of Gender, children and social Development
Out of Africa-Education
Presidential Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) –Education
Kilili Self help-USA Bio intensive agriculture
Ewh-Germany-Sustainable Agriculture
Christian Children’s Fund (CCF)-OVCs support
Peace Corps-Kenya-Volunteer placement
Gatanga CDF-Community resource center
Shine on.org
Aed/CAP-Kenya –OVC support/institutional strengthening.
Pelum Kenya _ Capacity building and Indigenous food project.
Amistad foundation-Livelihoods improvement.
FAO Kenya
Seeds for Africa
Slow food
YARD STRUCTURE
Board of TrusteesBOT
Programme Manager
Programme Mgt and
Technical
Team
Training & Extensions
Food Security and
Nutrition
Indigenous Food Project
Bio-Intensive Agriculture
(BIA)
Dept. Manager
Social
Economic
Livelihood
SFMAP/SEPP
Dept. Manager
Vulnerable children
support program
Gatanga home Based children
support project
Sherman Project
Dept. manager
ICT
Sensitization/Aware-ness
Community resource centre
and library
Campaign ,ICT,
publications
Attachment/internship
volunteering
Finance Administration
Office
Accounts
Stores
Finance Manager
Administration manager
Communities’ i.e., farmers, schools, OVC, youth, women, smallholder farmers, small entrepreneurs, guardians