Som A Soma Community Centre is a space where children, young people, women, farmers and other community members access practical learning, mentorship, resources and opportunities to thrive in Homa Bay County, Kenya.

Issues addressed at Som A Soma Community Centre.

1. Empowerment through learning and mentorship.

• Access to learning: Provides Community learning spaces and resources that complement schooling with books, guidance, and opportunities to keep learning for women, farmers, and the youth
• Community library: Homa Bay County doesn’t have (yet) a public library. Som A Soma provides a community library accessible to users of all ages.
• Mentorship: In Homa Bay, 23% of girls aged 15–19 have ever been pregnant, compared with 15% nationally. Som A Soma provides sustained mentorship, informed decision-making and support to continue learning.

2. Youth unemployment and the application of skills

Provides the youth with the opportunities to develop marketable skills and apply them in work and entrepreneurship.

3. Gender equality and opportunities for women

• Provides women with accessible training to develop skills to earn income and sustain livelihoods.
• HIV and household pressures. Homa Bay’s HIV prevalence was reported at 11.6%, placing it among Kenya’s highest-burden counties. Women affected by HIV, widowhood, and caregiving responsibilities, including caring for orphaned children, need inclusive opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods. Som A Soma provides opportunities to learn and earn.

4. Economic empowerment and welfare for farmers and fishermen

• Climate-sensitive livelihoods. Prolonged droughts, flooding, pests, declining soil fertility, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture threaten household food and income. At Som A Soma, farmers and fishermen are trained on climate-resilient farming practices
• Practical knowledge. The county climate plan identifies farmer field schools, climate information, drought-tolerant crops, and agroforestry as approaches to strengthen agricultural resilience.

Programs at Som A Soma Community Centre

 

1 Empowerment through the Future Ready Youth Program

 

• Books and a place to learn. A community library, books, learning activities, mentorship, and life skills support literacy, curiosity, and independent learning. This aligns with SDG 4 — Quality Education; Target 4.6: youth and adult literacy.
• Confidence and responsible citizenship. Activities develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, citizenship, and character. Mentorship supports informed choices and personal and educational development. This aligns with SDG 4, Target 4.7: knowledge and skills for sustainable development and global citizenship.
• Mentorship for Youth employment and skills development
  . Career guidance, green jobs,  digital skills, and entrepreneurship training help young people develop entrepreneurship skills by connecting skills development with practical application. This aligns with SDG 4, Target 4.4: relevant skills for work and entrepreneurship; SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth, Target 8.3: entrepreneurship and small-enterprise development.

2 Gender equality through the Women Thrive Program

• Practical skills for earning. Three-month fashion and design training cycles develop sewing, garment-making and product-development skills, prioritising women facing social and economic barriers. This aligns with SDG 4, Targets 4.3 and 4.4: access to vocational education and livelihood skills.
• Skills for entrepreneurship: We offer financial literacy, marketing, and business mentorship to prepare participants to establish individual or group businesses. This aligns with SDG 8, Target 8.3: entrepreneurship and small-enterprise development.
• Digital tools for business. We provide training in digital marketing and customer communication, supporting women’s participation in economic opportunities. This aligns with SDG 5 — Gender Equality, Target 5.b: technology for women’s empowerment.

3. Economic Empowerment and Climate Adaptation through Modern Farmer Program

 

• Learning by doing: We offer a demonstration farm that enables farmers to test crop diversification, soil conservation, water harvesting, and climate-resilient practices. This aligns with  SDG 2 — Zero Hunger, Target 2.4: resilient and sustainable food production.
• Knowledge for resilience and adaptation. We offer practical training and farmer-to-farmer exchanges that combine local experience with climate information. This aligns with SDG 13 — Climate Action, Targets 13.1 and 13.3: adaptive capacity and climate education.
• Stronger farm livelihoods. We offer training in farm enterprise, value addition, and diversified production to support household food security and income opportunities. This aligns with SDG 2, Target 2.3: smallholder productivity and incomes.
• Integral ecology. Rooted in Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’, integral ecology unites care for God’s creation with human dignity and the common good, calling Homa Bay’s farmers to nurture the soil, safeguard water and sustain livelihoods so that present and future generations may flourish.

Beyond Homa Bay

Homa Bay’s location on Lake Victoria connects it with Uganda and Tanzania. Som A Soma Community Centre serves learners from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania across the Lake Basin.

 

Som A Soma is an initiative of Writers Guild Kenya, Som A Soma builds on 12 years of experience in transforming communities through learning. Inspired by Laudato Si’, we embrace integral ecology, connecting lifelong learning, dignified livelihoods, and care for our common home.

Partner with us: Email us at somasoma@writersguild.co.ke  or +254748055879

“Som A Soma will help me to learn a new skill and provide for my family.” Lilian Adhiambo