About SAENET
Who We Are
ABOUT SAENET.
Meet The Founder
Joseph Leajore decided to directly work with the community to address pertinent issues trailing the development of the region. Born, raised and currently working in Baragoi, Samburu North Sub- County in Kenya, he is well acquainted with the region and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Northern Kenya. Insecurity is the main problem resulting in the stalling of development in education, health, WASH and social-political sectors. After completing his bachelor’s degree in Education at Moi University, he started to advocate for equality, access to quality education, and peaceful coexistence in the community. His approach was unique; he wrote both fiction and non-fiction books to pass his message to the community and the world. He has authored: “Heroine of the Jungle,” “Claws of Betrayal,” “Peace be Upon You,” and “A Roadmap to Success.” The writing platform gave him the opportunity to not only be a classroom teacher but a community and global teacher whose views are accessible globally through his books.
His exemplary work and leadership earned him recognition and awards, including two leadership fellowships by the United States and the British Council Embassies. He was awarded the Mandela Washington Fellowship and the British Council Future Leaders Connect, both in 2021. Joseph formed Samburu Empowerment Network (SENO) in order to expand the scope of his work, mentor and recruit volunteers to work towards realizing community transformation. His dream is to see a peaceful society where all children enjoy their full rights and learn in a secure environment with freedom of association.
About SAENET
The Samburu Empowerment Network Organization (SAENET) is a community-based organization whose primary mandate is to promote access to quality education and peace education through conducting mentorship programs, training village peace mentors and organizing educational workshops. The organization was registered in January 2020. Its head office is based in Baragoi town, Samburu County, and it operates in two other sub-counties, Samburu Central and East. It is officially registered under the Ministry of the East African Community (EAC), Labour and Social Protection, State Department for Social Protection, Department of Social Development. SAENET has concentrated upon holistic youth and women's education issues and is especially working on three thematic issues: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Active Citizenship, and Center for Youth Studies.
Our Core Values
S– Stewardship
A– Accountability
F– Fairness
E– Equality
THEMATIC AREAS
Active Citizenship
Active Citizenship is one of the three thematic areas of SAENET organization. In this area, we aim to educate young people and women to become more aware of the pertinent issues in the country and how they can contribute actively. We also aim to make them active citizens who work to improve their communities and society as a whole. This theme enables SAENET to encourage young people to actively contribute to peacebuilding and reconciliation. Programs here include:
Peacebuilding and conflict resolution programs
We promote peace by actively conducting the following activities:
• Vikapu Basketball Peace Tournament
A two-day non-residential workshop targeted towards youths between the ages of 18 and 30. It’s an effort towards a common platform for youth to develop relationships, talents and creativity through engagement. Participants undergo a series of discussions, games, and activities whereby new ideas are explored, organized, and implemented, concurrently empowering and motivating youth. It aims to teach leadership, teamwork, communication, idea generation, and implementation skills to the participants. It is organized twice a month in locations such as youth clubs and youth organizations or groups.
• Youth Activist Leadership Council
The Youth Activist Leadership Council (YALC) is a group of 10 youth activists, aged 16 to 24, who advocate at the village level for improved security. The young visionary leaders meet monthly to discuss ways to combat increased livestock theft (raids) and road attacks on vehicles. The council suggests ways to mitigate the involvement of young people in such retrogressive practices.
The youth activists are drawn from across the affected villages. Council members advocate for peace through peer-to-peer approaches, blogs, social media, and campaigns.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
SRHR is an important thematic area that advocates for youth and young women's issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights. It works to increase awareness about comprehensive sexuality education, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation (FGM), and gender equality. The following are initiatives under SRHR:
• Reaching Out Young Minds (ROYM)
Reaching Out Young Minds is a tour to reach out to targeted young people in colleges, secondary schools, and various youth groups in the community. The objective is to orient the next generation on issues related to HIV/AIDS and other STDs. This program is conducted in selected institutions and villages. It consists of basic information on youth advocacy through new media, harm reduction, stigma and discrimination.
• Right here, right now
Gender equality is a pertinent issue affecting the pastoralist communities. Women are not accorded the same opportunities as men. This program, therefore, advocates for empowering young women at their youthful stage to assume the role of leadership in the community. Right Here Right Now advocates for the right to education for school-going girls and for the sensitization of girls’ retention in school. Advocate for the abolition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Advocate for the abolition of early child marriages through conducting school mentorships and community sensitization programs.
Centre for Youth Studies
The research unit focuses on youth empowerment. With this wing, we conduct ‘Center for Youth Studies’. Through this program, youth can learn and conduct research about various youth and gender issues. Through the course, participants learn about concepts such as socio-political issues, research methods, networking, entrepreneurship, advocacy, life skills, and public speaking. Under this area, we conduct programs aimed at empowering participants with economic knowledge and skills. The main program is economic empowerment. This program's activities include financial literacy training and the promotion of self-help youth and women savings groups.