EVALUATING THE ZOE EMPOWERS MODEL OF EMPOWERING CHILD AND YOUTH-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN KENYA:
EstablishingtheImpactoftheInterventions
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
TheZoeEmpowersprogramfocusesonempoweringchildandyouth-headed householdsinKenya,helpingthemtransitionfromdependencetoselfsufficiencythroughathree-yearholisticempowermentmodel
RESEARCH DESIGN
Thestudyusedacross-sectionaldesign,evaluating385graduatesfromtheZoe Empowersprogram,whohadbeenoutoftheprogramforatleastninemonths anduptonearlyfouryears
FOOD SECURITY
Over99%(337)oftheparticipantswereabletoaffordthreemealsaday,with significantimprovementsinfoodsecurity,includingtheabilitytogrowor buyfoodandnolongerneedingtobegforfood
HOUSING
Nearlyallparticipants(335;9911%)livedinhousestheyowned,withmany havingimprovedtheirlivingconditionsthroughbuilding,renovating,or expandingtheirhomes
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION
Participantsshowedstrongreintegrationintotheircommunities,withhigh levelsofengagementincommunityeventsandasenseofbelonging,aswellas assistingothervulnerablecommunitymembers
HEALTH AND HYGIENE
Theprogramsignificantlyimprovedhealthoutcomes,with9024%(305)of projectbeneficiarieshavinghealthinsuranceandaccesstomedicalcare Participantsalsoimprovedtheirsanitationandaccesstocleanwater
CHILD RIGHTS AND EDUCATION
Almostallparticipantshadkeyidentitydocuments(birthcertificates, nationalIDcards)andwereknowledgeableabouttheirrightsSchool enrollmentwashigh,with9706%(167)ofschool-agedchildrenattending school
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Allhouseholdswereengagedinsomeformofbusiness,with997%(337)having multiplebusinessesTheseenterprisescontributedtohouseholdincome,food security,andtheabilitytocoverschoolexpenses
SPIRITUAL HEALTH
Theprogramintegratedspiritualsupport,with9941%(336)ofparticipants identifyingasChristian,andamajorityfeelingfreetoworshipandsharetheir faithwithintheirempowermentgroups
RECOMMENDATIONS
Thestudyrecommendedbetterdocumentationoftheempowermentmodel forreplication,improvedtrackingofgraduates,andincreasedpublicityand collaborationwithgovernmentagenciestosupportmorevulnerable households
