Empowerment Initiatives

Our empowerment initiatives support girls, young women, widows and boys through programs that support continued education, facilitate skill building, financial independence and long-term opportunity.

Why Empowerment Matters

Education alone isn’t enough.

For many in Arusha, external challenges such as poverty, gender inequality, family pressures, stigma and limited access to resources affects their ability to stay in school and thrive.

For the women, they are disempowered through the social structures, stigma and limited ability to work and care for a family without the support of a spouse.

Empowerment provides the tools, confidence, and support systems that help navigate these challenges. Our initiatives create safe spaces for those in our community to learn, grow and build their futures with dignity - through community.

Nala Vocational Training Centre

Skills. Confidence. Financial Independence.

Nala is our flagship empowerment program: a vocational training centre supporting young women and girls who were previously denied access to education.

Through a 12-month training program, participants learn practical skills such as:

Tailoring
Sewing
Handcraft making
Small business foundations
Workplace readiness

By the end of the program, graduates are empowered to enter the workforce, secure employment, or start their own small businesses; creating financial independence and stronger futures for themselves and their families.

Our vision for Nala

We plan to expand Nala to:

Include initiatives for boys and girls within our Cheti schools
Introduce more vocational skills and entrepreneurial training
Create a post-graduation support network to help women during their first year of employment
Strengthen local employment pipelines and small-business partnerships

Nala is more than a training program, it’s a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and long-term stability.

Micro-finance Loans

Where financial empowerment meets community, hope, and sisterhood.

Our micro-finance program supports widows and vulnerable women in the community by providing small, interest-free loans to start or grow their own business. This operates in a circular economy, where once the loan is paid back, the money can be used to help another woman in the community.

But this program is about so much more than money.

It creates:

Friendship and community connection
Shared learning and mutual support
Opportunities for financial freedom
Confidence and self-worth
Hope after hardship

Women meet regularly to encourage one another, discuss challenges, celebrate wins and share life together. Through this program, many families have moved from extreme vulnerability to stability, dignity and opportunity.

Period Poverty Project

In many communities, girls miss school during their menstrual cycle due to stigma, lack of resources, or unsafe sanitation facilities. This affects confidence, academic performance, and overall wellbeing.

Beginning in 2026, Inuka will launch a multi-phase menstrual health initiative across the Cheti schools.

Phase 1: Creating Safe Spaces

Build dedicated rooms where girls can rest, change, and feel safe during their cycle
Refurbish school bathrooms to improve cleanliness, privacy, and dignity