Our Programs are run in collaboration with existing institutions to encourage local ownership & sustainability
Since its founding in 2010, Riley Orton Foundation (ROF) has supported girls through education mainly at Akili preparatory school for girls, partnered with different primary and high schools to distribute school uniforms and bicycles to both boys and girls and helped women and youth acquire seed capital and microloans to support their businesses. ROF projects have mainly been in the areas of education/Literacy promotion and micro-enterprise development.
ROF is now focusing on areas where it has a clear comparative advantage and the ability to make a difference. All our development strategies include activities in:
1) Scholarships
2) Leadership & Entrepreneurship Training , and
3) Capacity Building as core program areas.
These activities are carried out in partnership with local communities; CBOs, self help groups, schools, government etc to achieve healthy and productive societies. Collaborations with these local groups is central to our development activities since we believe that only through such alliances and resource sharing can we build sustainable and resilient communities.
ROF is now focusing on areas where it has a clear comparative advantage and the ability to make a difference. All our development strategies include activities in:
1) Scholarships
2) Leadership & Entrepreneurship Training , and
3) Capacity Building as core program areas.
These activities are carried out in partnership with local communities; CBOs, self help groups, schools, government etc to achieve healthy and productive societies. Collaborations with these local groups is central to our development activities since we believe that only through such alliances and resource sharing can we build sustainable and resilient communities.
LEADERSHIP & ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING
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Aimed at solving the challenges young people face in finding gainful employment, our leadership and entrepreneurship program focuses on: Equipping youth with competencies in critical thinking and creativity, creating and expanding opportunities for youth re-skilling, and enhancing skills mobility across learning areas. This includes training on personal development, life skills (leadership, work ethic, communication, problem solving, team work , collaboration and entrepreneurship including financial literacy and starting own ventures, use of technology/ict in business.
ROF collaborates with existing Technical Vocational Education Training Institutions and individuals offering training to youth in Building Construction Technology/masonry, Fashion Design and Garment Making, Appropriate Carpentry and Joinery, Electricals and Electronics Technology, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy and Computer Studies/ICT. 
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SCHOLARSHIPS
ROF provides primary and high school scholarships to underprivileged boys and girls living in rural areas and urban slums in Kenya. The Scholarships are administered in partnership with existing private and public schools, government institutions and other scholarship and sponsorship providers. The parents of the scholarship recipients are highly encouraged to be actively involved in their kids education eg visiting students at school, purchasing stationery and other school supplies and assuming medical and other relevant costs. ROF also offers support to exemplary students graduating from high school to continue their education through college.
HOLD A GIRL'S HAND INITIATIVE
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Hold A Girl’s Hand Initiative is a gender transformative program that aims to reduce and totally eliminate the high absenteeism rates of rural girls who miss school during their menses, reduce sexual and gender based violence, bolster self esteem and improve sexual and reproductive health rights among rural adolescent girls. ROF partners with different rural schools to eliminate all barriers that hold girls back from achieving their full potential by offering counseling, Sexual & Reproductive Health Education, providing free school uniforms, sanitary pads and pants, bicycles to cycle to school and end transactional sex for lifts to school and involving boys and men in supporting girls empowerment.
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CAPACITY BUILDING
ROF has partnered with different schools to build classrooms and train teachers from community schools to improve quality of instruction in the classrooms. With the 100% secondary education transition policy exerting more pressure on the limited resources in both public primary and high schools, ROF partners with existing public and community schools to build their capacity to offer quality education in serene learning environments in Kenya. This includes focus on; Building and refurbishing classrooms, libraries, laboratories, toilets/latrines, water reservoirs and other learning infrastructures, provision of school uniforms, books/stationery etc. We also train teachers and school managers on learner centered techniques, Competency Based Curriculum, resource mobilization etc in partnership with the govt and other civil society organizations.