Schools Organic Agriculture Programme (SOAP)

Schools Organic Agriculture Programme (SOAP) is a programme of Resources Oriented Development Initiatives (RODI-Kenya). The Programme was started in 2004 with 3 schools in Nairobi and Central Province and has since grown to 25 schools in 5 provinces: Nairobi, Central, Nyanza, Rift Valley and Western. Through our work in prison, we realized that majority of the inmates are young people in the age bracket of 13 to 35 years. Careful scrutiny reveals that many of them are repeat offenders and/or were at one point in young offender institutions. What is of concern is that, they have similar characteristics such as poverty, unemployment, dropping out of school, drug and substance abuse, mugging, theft among others. The saddest thing about it Is that the boy child is highly in danger and getting into crime. Culturally girls tend to be accepted into the extended family cycles more than boys.

Many children often find themselves in the streets as a result of family breakup, breakdown of social structures following disasters and modern lifestyle, unwanted pregnancies and child abuse. Another reason that sends children into the streets and eventually in rehabilitation schools is the impact of HIV/AIDS, as many of them are orphaned and left destitute. These children are disinherited and in the course of their struggle to make a living, many find themselves in conflict with the law. This therefore explains the high number of young people engaging in criminal activities. 

RODI identified this gap and we are working with youth in probation hostels, rehabilitation schools, hearing and physically challenged as well as normal public and private schools. In its community outreach programme, SOAP uses schools as centers of excellence where parents through formation of SOAP parent clubs are trained in organic agriculture, environmental conservation, parenting skills, HIV & AIDS, drug and substance abuse, hygiene water and sanitation among other areas.