CFK Africa, Weyerhaeuser Foundation back women’s skills training in Kenya

For many women living in Kenya’s informal settlements, the path to stable, well-paying work is blocked by more than poverty.

Deep-rooted gender stereotypes often shut them out of skilled trades, leaving few options beyond low-wage, insecure jobs.

A new initiative by CFK Africa, supported by the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation, aims to change that.

The international nonprofit has announced the launch of Women at Work, a vocational training program that will equip women in Kenyan slums with practical skills in traditionally male-dominated fields such as plumbing, electrical installation, and auto mechanics. The program is scheduled to begin in early 2026.

Women at Work will focus on teenage mothers and other women living in informal settlements who are often excluded from technical training opportunities.

Participants will learn directly from Master Craftswomen—experienced women working in these trades through hands-on, on-the-job training.

“The best way to learn a job is by doing it,” said CFK Africa Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Okoro, adding that pairing young women with skilled women mentors, opens doors to careers that were once considered out of reach.

The pilot phase will reach 80 young women across five informal settlements in Kenya. In addition to technical and vocational training, participants will receive mentorship and job placement support to help them transition into sustainable employment.

The initiative builds on CFK Africa’s TechCraft program, launched last year to improve income opportunities for young people in communities such as Kibera through market-driven skills training.

Funding for Women at Work comes through the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation’s International Initiative, which focuses on advancing opportunity, equity, and well-being for women and girls in developing countries.

“When it comes to vocational skills, there is no better teacher than an experienced worker and no better education than a job,” Okoro added. “This program is about long-term economic security and dignity.”