EVALUATING THE ZOE EMPOWERS MODEL OF EMPOWERING CHILD AND YOUTH-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN KENYA: Establishing the Impact of the Interventions
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PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Zoe Empowers program focuses on empowering child and youth-headed households in Kenya, helping them transition from dependence to selfsufficiency through a three-year holistic empowerment model.
RESEARCH DESIGN The study used a cross-sectional design, evaluating 385 graduates from the Zoe Empowers program, who had been out of the program for at least nine months and up to nearly four years.
FOOD SECURITY Over 99% (337) of the participants were able to afford three meals a day, with significant improvements in food security, including the ability to grow or buy food and no longer needing to beg for food.
HOUSING Nearly all participants (335; 99.11%) lived in houses they owned, with many having improved their living conditions through building, renovating, or expanding their homes.
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION Participants showed strong reintegration into their communities, with high levels of engagement in community events and a sense of belonging, as well as assisting other vulnerable community members.
HEALTH AND HYGIENE The program significantly improved health outcomes, with 90.24% (305) of project beneficiaries having health insurance and access to medical care. Participants also improved their sanitation and access to clean water.
CHILD RIGHTS AND EDUCATION Almost all participants had key identity documents (birth certificates, national ID cards) and were knowledgeable about their rights. School enrollment was high, with 97.06% (167) of school-aged children attending school.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT All households were engaged in some form of business, with 99.7% (337) having multiple businesses. These enterprises contributed to household income, food security, and the ability to cover school expenses.
SPIRITUAL HEALTH The program integrated spiritual support, with 99.41% (336) of participants identifying as Christian, and a majority feeling free to worship and share their faith within their empowerment groups.
RECOMMENDATIONS The study recommended better documentation of the empowerment model for replication, improved tracking of graduates, and increased publicity and collaboration with government agencies to support more vulnerable households.
Based on research by Obed Masese Makori, Simon Kipkemboi Omasaki, and Geoffrey Arori Momanyi