Ensuring the Future: The Sustainability Challenge at Mercy Vocational Training Centre

For over 30 years, the Mercy Vocational Training Centre has provided essential vocational skills to vulnerable youth in West Pokot, helping them achieve economic independence and community contribution.

The Centre faces a sustainability crisis caused by rising operational costs and the inability of impoverished, drought-affected families to pay consistent tuition. The reliance on student fees and traditional donor models is no longer viable in the current economic landscape.

Financial instability threatens the quality of education, limits investment in modern equipment, and risks higher dropout rates, particularly among young women who may be forced into early marriage or economic dependency.

To secure its future, the Centre is moving away from sole dependence on external grants. It is focusing on a new model characterized by diversified income streams, productive enterprise development, and strategic partnerships, leveraging its strong community reputation and assets to ensure long-term viability.