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KCB Foundation Celebrates 800 Youth Graduates from 2Jiajiri Programme in Elgeyo Marakwet

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KCB Foundation has reached a significant milestone in youth empowerment by graduating 800 youth from its 2Jiajiri vocational training programme in Elgeyo Marakwet County. This achievement marks a crucial step in equipping young people with market-relevant technical skills across 10 vocational training centers (VTCs) in the region.

The 2Jiajiri programme, implemented through a strategic partnership between KCB Foundation and Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Work’s programme, represents a comprehensive approach to youth development. The initiative combines 9-month hands-on technical training with business acumen and enterprise development, creating a holistic pathway for entrepreneurial success.

Programme Impact and Structure

The graduation ceremony highlighted the programme’s immediate impact, with 120 graduates receiving business start-up toolkits to launch their entrepreneurial journeys. This practical support demonstrates the programme’s commitment to moving beyond theoretical training to tangible business outcomes.

KCB Foundation Director Mendi Njonjo emphasized the initiative’s strategic focus, stating their goal is to “leverage technical and vocational skills as a direct pathway to youth self-employment”while nurturing entrepreneurship at the grassroots level where the need is most urgent.

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The programme’s comprehensive structure addresses multiple aspects of youth development. Beyond technical skills training, participants receive business development support, entrepreneurial guidance, and access to start-up resources. This multi-faceted approach ensures graduates are not just skilled technicians but capable business owners ready to create employment opportunities in their communities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Government Support

The graduation event attracted key stakeholders including representatives from the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), and the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). This multi-stakeholder approach reflects the programme’s alignment with national vocational training initiatives and government priorities for youth empowerment.

The programme’s success builds on Kenya’s growing recognition of TVET as a crucial pathway for youth development. Recent partnerships, such as Huawei’s collaboration with Kenya’s TVET institutions, demonstrate the increasing focus on technical education as a solution to youth unemployment and skills gaps.

National Scale and Impact

The 2Jiajiri programme’s reach extends far beyond Elgeyo Marakwet County. To date, the initiative has trained over 35,000 youth nationwide, supported the creation of over 150,000 jobs, and distributed over 2,000 business start-up toolkits. These figures position the programme as one of Kenya’s most significant youth empowerment initiatives, rivaling other major programs like Huawei’s DigiTruck initiative in scale and impact.

The programme has also disbursed millions in youth enterprise loans, providing crucial financial support for business development. This financial component addresses one of the most significant barriers facing young entrepreneurs – access to capital for business startup and expansion.

Economic Inclusion and Job Creation

Through initiatives like 2Jiajiri, KCB Foundation continues championing economic inclusion by equipping youth with the tools, skills, and confidence needed to thrive as job creators and changemakers in their communities. This approach aligns with broader national strategies for youth economic empowerment and sustainable development.

The programme’s focus on enterprise development across key economic sectors aims to unlock sustainable income opportunities and catalyze job creation. This strategy recognizes that sustainable youth empowerment requires not just individual skill development but comprehensive ecosystem support that enables young people to become economic drivers in their communities.

Partnership with Mastercard Foundation

The collaboration with Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Work’s programme demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in addressing youth unemployment. This partnership leverages Mastercard Foundation’s expertise in youth development while utilizing KCB Foundation’s local knowledge and infrastructure.

The partnership model reflects a growing trend of collaborative approaches to development challenges, where organizations combine resources and expertise to achieve greater impact than individual efforts might produce.

Future Prospects and Sustainability

The 2Jiajiri programme’s success in Elgeyo Marakwet County provides a model for replication across other regions. The programme’s focus on grassroots entrepreneurship development, combined with comprehensive support systems, offers a sustainable approach to youth empowerment that can be adapted to different regional contexts.

The programme’s emphasis on technical and vocational skills training addresses critical gaps in Kenya’s education system while providing practical pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. This approach is particularly relevant as Kenya continues to face challenges with youth unemployment and the need for skilled technical workers.

As KCB Foundation continues to expand the 2Jiajiri programme, the focus remains on creating sustainable pathways for youth economic empowerment. The programme’s success in combining technical training with business development support offers a comprehensive model for addressing youth unemployment challenges across Kenya and the broader East African region.

The graduation of 800 youth in Elgeyo Marakwet County represents more than a milestone – it demonstrates the potential for strategic, well-supported youth empowerment initiatives to create lasting economic change at the community level.

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The Analyst

The Analyst delivers in-depth, data-driven insights on technology, industry trends, and digital innovation, breaking down complex topics for a clearer understanding. Reach out: Mail@Tech-ish.com

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