Our Core Programmes
At The Heart of a Woman (ATHOW), we design holistic, sustainable solutions that address immediate vulnerabilities and create long-term transformation for women, youth, and communities.
Education & Vocation
An educated girl can build and enhance her self-confidence, acquire the skills to make independent decisions, broaden her horizons, and develop effective communication skills. Our vocational training programs aim to increase women’s earnings, improve overall employment rates, and promote higher rates of formal employment.
Community Engagement
The organization engages the community to in-order to create more effective solutions. This engagement empowers and integrates people from different backgrounds, fostering opportunities to discuss their concerns and collaborate on addressing them.
Advocacy
At The Heart of a Woman advocates for gender equality and rights of the women. We aim to creating a society where everyone feels safe and has equal access to opportunities and rights, regardless of their gender.
Economic Empowerment
Investing in women empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. ATHOW gives these women and girls a chance to learn how to become resilient and resourceful economic agents, overcoming persistent, gender-based barriers to advance the well-being of their families.
Healthcare
ATHOW aims to improve healthcare access to women and girls, with a focus on reproductive health, mental well-being, and emotional wellness.
Youth & Agriculture
We recognize the crucial role agriculture plays in creating sustainable jobs and improving living standards. In collaboration with our extensive network, the organization identifies youth from diverse backgrounds and empowers them to invest in agriculture. This initiative has had a significant impact on their lives by creating job opportunities and generating income. The youth are mentored in various agricultural enterprises, with each being advised to choose the one that best suits their interests and skills.
Featured Initiatives
Badilisha Piloting Project
Badilisha is a transformative initiative focused on empowering vulnerable women aged 17-44 in Korogocho, one of Kenya’s largest informal settlements. The project targets women involved in transactional sex, many of whom are single mothers and sole providers. These women face severe economic hardship, often earning less than Ksh 200 (less than $1.50) daily and struggling to meet basic needs like food, rent, and education for their children.
The piloting plan was the initial stage of the real Badilisha project, which was implemented by ATHOW and its partners. The plan supported 10 young women aged 20-24 who engage in sex for survival. These women, each with a unique story of resilience, were exposed to life skills sessions that opened up new avenues for income generation and promoted self-realization. In addition to training, they received weekly food baskets to help them cope with high food prices and participated in Sunday services where each family shared a meal.
Focused on 10 women, providing life skills training, mentorship, table banking, and digital literacy. Weekly food baskets were also distributed.
Expanded to 23 women, with continued mentorship and food support, plus digital literacy training and a kids’ club for the children of participants.
Currently supporting 35 women, with the addition of counseling sessions that have significantly improved mental well-being.
Looking forward, Badilisha aims to expand vocational training in hairdressing, tailoring, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship to provide women with sustainable livelihoods and income-generating opportunities. This project gives these women a chance to turn their lives around, escape the dangers associated with transactional sex, and live dignified, independent lives.