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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2020 The Standard
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K-YES gives hope, restores dignity to vulnerable youth through skills
he emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has dimmed hope for many youths globally leaving a number of them hopeless vulnerable. A number of learning programs, which harbor most of the youth in the world have indefinitely been disrupted throwing their future into disarray. This comes at a time when world employment trends spell doom to the ballooning world youth population. Indeed, rising youth unemployment is one of the most significant problems facing economies and societies in today’s world. According to the latest UN Global Employment Trends for Youth report 2020: Technology and the future of jobs shows that since 2017, there has been an upward trend in the number of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET). The report notes that the labour force participation rate of young people (aged 15–24) has continued to decline. Locally, one third of Kenya’s population is between 15-34 years old and are struggling to find meaningful employment. This untapped demographic of young Kenyans transitioning into their productive working years presents public and private sector stakeholders with both a challenge and an opportunity. Informed by this underlying world trends, the Kenya Youth Employment and Skills Program (K-YES) has cast focus on empowering youth with skills essential for their livelihood. Through a program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), KYES continues to fulfil its mandate through skill equipping drive with bias on vulnerable school drop outs. The USAID’s K-YES program provides motivated but disenfranchised youth the skills and support needed to be competitive and successful in gaining employment. “Youth form the bulk of the country’s population and they also bear the biggest brunt of unemployment. A huge chunk of jobs are blue collar hence the need to shift focus in that sector if we are to wage war against unemployment,” explains K-YES Chief of Party Joyce Wafula.
Rose Luturian
Through the program, participants are connected to the labour market information, financial institutions, and 21st century employability skills, enabling them to make informed decisions about their careers. With skills and vocational training designed in coordination with local industries and government, K-YES focuses on building local relationships and capacity to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of education and employment outcomes. The program has been working with selected vocational institutions in the country to support enrollment especially for youth pursuing short courses; provide trainings on soft skills and assist securing internships for trainees. Currently, the program is active in nine counties including Bungoma, Garissa, Kericho, Kisii, Kwale, Migori,Nairobi, Nyeri; and West Pokot. Over 11,000 youth have so far been trained in short courses in vocational institutions. The program has also availed grants to selected institutions for acquisition of tools and learning materials; and strengthened their capacity to operate professionally. For the youth who opted not to enroll in vocational centres; they had a piece of
“They could not understand why I was going back to class to pursue a mechanical course they thought was a preserve for the male gender.” She recollects. “They believed I was crazy.”
the pie as well. The program conducted targeted trainings in agribusiness; and entrepreneurship reaching over 90,000. Half of the total trained youth (50,000) have acquired new or better jobs. Among them is Rose Luturian; who despite being a mother inspired many by pursuing a mechanics course and secured a job as the only female mechanic at a garage in Bungoma town. “The Program has contributed a great deal in achieving my lifelong goals,” says Luturian. Despite dropping out of school and focusing on her role as a housewife, she opted for the training - a move that baffled her family and friends. “They could not understand why I was going back to class to pursue a mechanical course they thought was a preserve for the male gender.” She recollects. “They believed I was crazy.” The program has relied on continued support and goodwill from stakeholders including county governments, development partners, private sector and youth networks to achieve its objectives. Moreover, at the grassroots level, the program works closely with ‘Youth Bunge’ forums- youth-led structures established with support from USAID to strengthen youth involvement in leadership. Such partnerships have elevated youth leaders in significant policymaking space, for instance, Migori Bunge Youth leader Joseph Nyapete who serves as a commissioner in the municipal board. Others are playing key various policy influencing roles including membership to Covid-19 Response Committees in their respective counties. K-YES Response to Covid -19 As the world concentrates efforts in prevention and mitigating against effects of Covid -19, K-YES has put out elaborate efforts to involve its participants. “Our youth are using skills gained to make and distribute liquid soap and masks to the vulnerable in their communities. Hundreds of such youth were selected; trained by health experts and are leading the exercise in the nine counties,” explains Winne Koross a
Vincent Bett from Kericho who benefitted from Program intevetions
Eunese Mbadi, K-YES Program beneficiacry from Kwale
Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga during the launch of KYES and county government Covid -19 response activity recently in the county
youth leader from Kericho. “We are reaching out to others with bottled liquid soap; jerrycans; facemasks and thermos-guns. County governments are supporting the initiative by adding more materials for distribution, providing means of transport and unveiling the whole exercise,” notes Ms Koros. The Program in partnership with
county governments has distributed 76,000 liters of soap; distributed over 20,000 face masks and 300 flowing water cans to vulnerable populations. They have also reached them with messaging on responsible behavior through distribution of informational materials and radio talk shows.
Plumbing class supported by KYES Program at Bahati Vocational Center in Nairobi