Hussein Weytan Foundation recognizes that strong families are the cornerstone of a stable community. Our program supporting vulnerable young couples in Mandera East addresses the unique challenges faced by newly married couples while promoting sustainable household development. By investing in these foundational family units, we’re building community resilience from the ground up, creating stable homes where children can thrive and couples can contribute positively to community development. Our holistic approach addresses not just immediate needs but builds long-term capacity for family success and stability.
The challenges facing young couples in our community include limited financial resources that create immediate stress and conflict in new marriages. Many couples begin their lives together with minimal savings, irregular income, and significant financial obligations such as housing, medical expenses, and family expectations. Without adequate financial resources or management skills, couples struggle to meet basic needs, leading to household stress and sometimes relationship breakdown. This financial instability often perpetuates across generations as struggling parents are unable to invest in their children’s education and development.
Lack of employment opportunities compounds financial challenges, particularly in Mandera East where formal employment is limited. Young people often enter marriage without stable income sources, relying on casual labor, small-scale agriculture, or family support. Young men face pressure to provide financially while finding few viable options, creating frustration and sometimes pushing them toward risky livelihood activities or migration. Young women who could contribute economically often lack the skills, capital, or family support to develop income sources. This unemployment or underemployment creates both practical hardship and relationship strain.
Insufficient knowledge about family management leaves many young couples ill-prepared for the complexities of running a household together. Having moved from their parents’ homes directly to marriage, many lack experience in budgeting, prioritizing expenses, planning for future needs, or resolving household conflicts constructively. Cultural norms sometimes discourage discussions about family planning, creating additional challenges as families grow quickly without corresponding resource increases. Without guidance or models for successful family management, couples repeat patterns they’ve observed, even when these patterns haven’t produced positive outcomes.
Limited access to healthcare and family planning services impacts both immediate wellbeing and long-term family stability. Young couples, particularly in remote areas, often struggle to access appropriate healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth or for general health needs. Family planning information and services remain insufficient, leaving couples without tools to plan their families according to their resources and capacities. Health emergencies can quickly deplete limited financial resources, creating cycles of debt and increasing vulnerability. Preventable health issues sometimes go untreated until they become serious, impacting earning capacity and family functioning.
Housing insecurity represents another significant challenge, with many young couples unable to secure appropriate, affordable housing. Some begin married life in shared family compounds, creating privacy challenges and sometimes conflict with extended family. Others rent inadequate housing that consumes a disproportionate amount of their income. Housing instability leads to frequent moves, disrupting community connections and children’s education. Inadequate housing also creates health risks, particularly for young children, and can make home-based income generation activities impossible.
Intergenerational poverty cycles continue as struggling couples are unable to invest in building assets or creating opportunities for their children. Without intervention, each generation starts from the same place of scarcity, facing the same challenges with few additional resources or capabilities. Breaking these cycles requires comprehensive support that addresses immediate needs while building foundations for long-term advancement. Our program aims to interrupt these cycles by equipping young families with the resources, knowledge, and support to build more stable and prosperous lives.
Our comprehensive support program includes financial support and training as a fundamental component. Financial management workshops teach essential skills for household economic stability, including budgeting, prioritizing expenses, saving, and avoiding harmful debt. Using practical, relevant examples and interactive methodologies, these workshops make financial concepts accessible regardless of educational background. Couples learn to work as a team on financial matters, making joint decisions and planning for both immediate needs and future goals. These skills often reduce financial