Reach for the Stars:
A Celebration of Grit and Growth
On April 7th, our Muchatha participants came together to celebrate a milestone: the graduation of Cohort 1 of our Reach for the Stars program. This day marked the culmination of seven months of relearning, and growth.
We launched the Reach for the Stars program in Muchatha on July 22, 2024, with the goal of equipping participants with the knowledge and confidence to pursue their goals and create lasting change in their lives. Over the course of seven monthly sessions, we engaged in interactive workshops and mentorship experiences. Each session was thoughtfully tailored to address the real-life challenges our participants face; whether in their daily lives or along their economic journeys.
The graduation ceremony was not just an event, it was a celebration of their commitment to learning and their efforts to build a better future. We gathered with our participants, volunteers and community leaders. The atmosphere buzzed with laughter, hugs, and heartfelt conversations.
Voices of Impact
During the speeches, Peter, a community elder, and Jacinta, a mother of two, a grocery store owner and one of the graduates, spoke with passion and purpose.
“We want to thank Wake na Vijana Initiatives. Since joining Reach for the Stars, we have seen change. We are applying what we learned. Our plea to the Chief is to support Muchatha youth, many of whom are idle and vulnerable to drugs due to unemployment. We ask for more initiatives like this one, because this program has truly helped us,”
shared Jacinta.
“At first, some joined hoping to get money. But when they learned it was a learning program, the majority left. Yet those who stayed: you have proven your dedication. My hope is that you put your knowledge to use,” expressed Peter.
Their words grounded the program in community credibility and highlighted its real-world relevance.
These speeches were followed by an open mic session, where participants shared how their lives had changed and how they had applied the knowledge they acquired:
Silas, a farmer and motorcycle taxi rider, spoke about learning to manage time better, and how that helped him serve his customers with greater honesty and care.
Ann, a grocery stall owner, expressed that she found strength through the stress management session, gaining tools to face both business and personal challenges.
Irene, a mother of two, who once struggled to save for her popcorn machine due to emergencies, shared how the financial planning session helped her separate personal and business funds and stay disciplined.
Awards & Recognition
After the speeches, we awarded our participants their certificates. Those who attended all seven sessions received a bonus gift: a program-branded t-shirt to wear as a badge of honor.
The smiles and applause that followed said it all: they earned this.
Gratitude to Our Champions
Behind every graduate stands a network of committed changemakers. We are deeply grateful to those who made this journey possible:
- Chief Moses, Muchatha area chief, for opening doors to community engagement and trust.
- Peter Njoroge, Muchatha community elder, whose dedication helped mobilize youth and deepen community participation.
- Chef Kim, head chef at Five Sense Restaurant, for generously sharing culinary skills and sparking dreams in our aspiring chefs.
- Mercy Kidero and Elly Voight generously donated towards the space rental for our monthly meetings and provided refreshments for the graduation day.
- Beatrice Kisanya, from @Finmatsacco, for facilitating a financial literacy session and clearly explaining how SACCOs work.
- KCB Foundation #2jiajiri program for providing ongoing MSME mentorship.
The Next Steps
We look forward to staying connected through an alumni network and continuing to support our participants’ growth..
To our graduates: You have reached for the stars and now it’s time to soar.
Join Us
We would like to expand our Reach for the Stars community engagement to other communities. Support our mission of empowering our women and youth through donations, volunteering your time or entrepreneurial mentorship.
Donate now: https://wakevijana.org/donations/general-funds/
