17/08/2026
From School Clubs to Life Skills: The Journey Continues
What happens when the skills young people learn in school continue to shape their lives long after they leave the club?
Former members of RODI Kenya-supported school clubs recently came together for a mentorship and follow-up meeting at the Eco-Conferencing Centre, accompanied by their teachers.
The meeting provided an opportunity to reconnect, reflect on their journeys and strengthen practical skills in agriculture and agroecology, value addition, tyre and dye, and soap making.
The stories shared were a powerful reminder that practical education can open doors.
Ian Mutugi, a former Soap Club member at Riamute Primary School, learned baking and cake making while in the club. Although he was unable to continue to high school, he turned those skills into a livelihood. Today, his cake business earns him about KES 1,700 a day. He has used his earnings to purchase a calf and is now working towards buying a motorbike.
At Lioki Primary School, Rose, a teacher who was not previously a farmer, was introduced to agriculture through RODI Kenya's training. She started chicken farming and planted avocado seedlings, which have now begun producing fruit.
Meanwhile, teacher Beatrice Kangethe shared that most former club members have transitioned successfully to Grade 10, with four joining C1 schools and others joining C2 schools. She noted that the practical competencies developed through RODI Kenya's programmes complement the Competency-Based Education (CBE) approach.
The young people also received mentorship from probation officers, who shared real-life lessons on choices and behaviours that can lead young people into the justice system.
These experiences remind us that education goes beyond the classroom.
When young people receive practical skills, mentorship and opportunities, those lessons can become businesses, livelihoods, responsible choices and hope for the future.
RODI Kenya continues to invest in practical learning that equips young people with skills for life.