JAL team at work in the community
How We Work

Theory of Change

From inputs to impact — a five-stage pathway that connects resources to lasting community transformation.

Inputs

Community mobilization, local and external partnerships, financial resources, volunteer time, training materials, and institutional infrastructure.

Activities

Literacy and ICT classes, savings groups, vocational training, mentorship programs, sanitation campaigns, sports leagues, advocacy workshops, and welfare support.

Outputs

Trained individuals, established savings groups, constructed facilities, planted trees, organized events, and distributed materials.

Outcomes

Improved literacy and digital skills, increased household incomes, reduced school dropouts, better hygiene practices, stronger social cohesion, and greater inclusion of PWDs and women.

Impact

A self-reliant, educated, peaceful, and empowered community living with dignity, harmony, and equal opportunities for all.

What We Aim To Achieve

Our Strategic Objectives

Eleven concrete objectives that translate our goal into action.

1

To eradicate illiteracy among adults by providing basic English and literacy training that enables functional communication and access to information.

2

To bridge the digital divide by equipping community members with ICT skills ranging from basic computer literacy to coding and graphic design.

3

To secure the dignity and future of orphans and vulnerable children through comprehensive support encompassing nutrition, education, and healthcare.

4

To reclaim the potential of young mothers affected by early pregnancy through accelerated learning, vocational skills, and school re-entry advocacy.

5

To transition the community from aid dependency to self-reliance through entrepreneurship development, business skills training, and access to micro-credit.

6

To combat the systemic neglect of the boy child through mentorship, sports, technical apprenticeships, and anti-radicalization education.

7

To improve community health and environmental sustainability through sanitation campaigns, waste management, and conservation initiatives.

8

To promote peace and social cohesion through sport-based dialogue, inter-community leagues, and safe recreational spaces.

9

To advance the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities through advocacy, accessible infrastructure, and inclusive vocational training.

10

To economically empower women through table-banking, savings groups, business skills training, and access to start-up capital.

11

To build a transparent, accountable, and sustainable institution that serves as a trusted platform for community-led development in Turkana West.

Challenge & Response

The Problem We Address

Ten specific community challenges, each met with a dedicated program. This is the heart of our approach — we don't guess what the community needs; we respond to what we see.

Challenge 1
Illiteracy

Many adults in Kakuma and Kalobeyei missed formal schooling and lack functional literacy, limiting their access to information, services, and economic opportunity.

Our Response — Program 1
Adult English Basic Training Program

Eradicating language barriers and building functional literacy for adults who missed formal schooling.

Challenge 2
Digital Divide

Limited access to computers, internet, and digital skills leaves community members excluded from the modern economy and essential online services.

Our Response — Program 2
ICT Program

Bridging the digital divide with computer basics, coding, design, and cybersecurity awareness.

Challenge 3
Orphan Vulnerability

Orphans and vulnerable children face insecurity in nutrition, education, shelter, and healthcare, threatening their future and dignity.

Our Response — Program 3
Orphanage Support Program

Securing the dignity and future of orphans and vulnerable children through comprehensive care.

Challenge 4
Early-Pregnancy Mothers Pushed Out of School

Young mothers who become pregnant are often forced out of school, cutting short their education and limiting their life prospects.

Our Response — Program 4
Early Pregnancy Mothers: Learning and Empowerment

Reclaiming the potential of young mothers through accelerated learning and vocational skills.

Challenge 5
Aid Dependency

Prolonged reliance on humanitarian aid has eroded self-reliance and entrepreneurial initiative among community members.

Our Response — Program 5
Entrepreneurship Program

Transitioning from aid dependency to self-reliance through business development and micro-credit access.

Challenge 6
Boy-Child Neglect

Systemic neglect of young men leads to disengagement, substance abuse, and vulnerability to radicalization and crime.

Our Response — Program 6
Boy Child Neglect Program

Combating systemic neglect of young men through mentorship, sports, and technical apprenticeships.

Challenge 7
Sanitation Gaps

Inadequate hygiene infrastructure and practices contribute to preventable disease and environmental degradation.

Our Response — Program 7
Community Sanitation and Environmental Conservation Program

Improving community health through hygiene campaigns, waste management, and conservation.

Challenge 8
Social Fragmentation

Diverse communities in Kakuma and Kalobeyei experience tensions and fragmentation that undermine peace and collective progress.

Our Response — Program 8
Sport Development and Peace Program

Building peace and social cohesion through inter-community sports and dialogue.

Challenge 9
Disability Exclusion

Persons with disabilities face stigma, inaccessible infrastructure, and exclusion from education, employment, and leadership.

Our Response — Program 9
Disability Inclusion and Empowerment Program

Advancing inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities through advocacy and training.

Challenge 10
Women's Economic Exclusion

Women are disproportionately excluded from economic opportunity, lacking access to capital, skills, and markets.

Our Response — Program 10
JAL Women Economic Empowerment Program

Empowering women through table-banking, savings groups, business skills, and leadership development.

How We Think

Our Development Philosophy

Six principles that guide how we design and deliver every intervention.

Community-Led Development

Solutions originate from within the community. We facilitate, support, and resource — but the community leads.

Localization

We prioritize local talent, local knowledge, and local resources. Our team is drawn from the communities we serve.

Participation

Beneficiaries are active participants in every stage — from design to implementation to evaluation.

Resilience

We strengthen the ability of individuals and communities to withstand shocks and adapt to changing circumstances.

Sustainability

Every intervention is designed to endure beyond the project cycle, creating lasting positive change.

Rights-Based Approach

We frame our work around the rights and dignity of every person, ensuring empowerment — not charity.

See Our Approach in Action

Explore our ten flagship programs and see how each one addresses a specific community challenge.