MOMBASA COUNTY KENYA YOUTH EMPOWERED

MOMBASA COUNTY KENYA YOUTH EMPOWERED

By Wangeci Kariuki

Sixty- two trainees from the Coast Region received construction toolkits to enable them establish their individual and group-based microenterprises in the building and construction sectors.

The beneficiaries have successfully completed training at the Mombasa National Polytechnic under KCB Foundation’s flagship youth empowerment programme, 2jiajiri.

The tools are part of the KES 20 million toolkits procured by KCB Foundation in partnership with the German International Development Agency (GIZ) for 580 beneficiaries under GIZ’s E4D/SOGA (Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa) programme.

The 2jiajiri programme aims to transform job seekers into employers, by helping them realise their potential as business owners, thus generating sustainable employment opportunities for themselves.

With 2jiajiri the youth go through technical and vocational training in informal sectors which are building and construction, automotive maintenance and repair, beauty and personal care, domestic services and agribusiness.

Speaking during the construction toolkit handover held at the Kenya Coast National Polytechnic, KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi said the youth should be empowered through capital financing and business development training.

“In conjunction with GIZ, we have handed over more than 300 toolkits to youth in different counties since inception bringing us closer to our goal of equipping 580 youth by November,” said Ms Mwangi.

“The construction beneficiaries are now well placed to access contracts from the private sector and national and county governments as they have fully registered their businesses”.

Mombasa County Governor Hassan Ali Joho appreciated what KCB Foundation in partnership with GIZ was doing in Mombasa and invited further talks on what could be done for the youth in his county.

“I thank KCB Foundation for this important initiative as it is transformative and fits into the current job demand and going forward we should design similar future programs together that will create more opportunities for the youth,” he said.

About 2jiajiri

2jiajiri is the flagship enterprise development and wealth creation programme for the youth, launched in March 2016.

The programme seeks to empower 10,000 youth every year to start small businesses that will employ at least 5 people each.

This translates to 50,000 jobs for young people directly created through this programme by the end of the 5 years.

2jiajiri works by walking the journey to success with the youth and reaching through 4 key milestones on the path to self-sufficiency namely: technical and vocational training, access to financial services including start-up and working capital, enterprise management support and formal linkages to customers and suppliers in the larger market that ensure long-term sustainability.

About GIZ E4D/SOGA

Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa initiative aims to promote local employment and reduce the local workforce’s skills gap in and around natural resource-based industries and related sectors in Kenya.

The Programme cooperates with key stakeholders for employment, including international and domestic companies, governments and local training providers.

E4D/SOGA aims to train over 23,000 youth and place about 9,000 youth in Kenya, in jobs by 2019.

The Programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and private partners.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is responsible for project implementation.