The training, done jointly with the USAID Tumikia Mtoto Programme and the World Vision Kenya, seeks to empower young and vulnerable women by providing them with skills in areas such as electrical, paintwork and plumbing works
BY SILAS APOLLO
Over 2000 young people are set to benefit from technical and vocational training in construction through a Sh60 million investment by the Family Bank’s arm, the Family Group Foundation.
The training, done jointly with the USAID Tumikia Mtoto Programme and the World Vision Kenya, seeks to empower young and vulnerable women by providing them with skills in areas such as electrical, paintwork and plumbing works.
The goal is to help strengthen the health and human capacity of the trainees and address barriers caused by health related challenges such as HIV-Aids and provide them with a means of taking care of their children.
Speaking during the fourth graduation of some 100 young and vulnerable women of the programme, state department of children’s services secretary Shem Nyakutu said that the initiative was a move in the right direction.
He added that the importance of Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) cannot be underscored as it seeks to align with Sustainable Development Goal 4 to eliminate disparities in access to education.
“The national government is deliberate in propelling key technical and vocational skills through initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme and availing opportunities to export skilled labour abroad,” he said.
Family Bank chief executive officer Rebecca Mbithi said that the project is the heart of the bank’s shared vision of promoting an equitable society.
“It is an end-to-end value drive for our youth. The youth receive life-long technical skill sets while at the same time undergo financial training coupled with sexual and reproductive health and soft skills such as confidence building, public speaking and eventually placement in construction sites,” said Mbithi.
“We have seen over 80% of the youth trained transition to internships and acquire decently paid work in various construction sites. It is also great to see over 30% pursue entrepreneurial journeys and others proceed to join tertiary institutions and universities to advance their studies,” she added.
The program’s impact reaches far beyond vocational instruction, acting as a crucial instrument for reducing vulnerabilities like HIV infection, violence, and transactional sex.
To better prepare the trainees for the job market, the USAID Tumikia Mtoto Project equips all the graduates with construction tool kits worth Sh50,000 at no cost to the beneficiaries to jumpstart them for freelancing and employment opportunities.
“The graduation ceremony for this fourth cohort of trainees is a celebration of perseverance, triumph, and collaboration,” said the USAID deputy mission director Bert Ubamadu.
“The U.S. government is proud to support these young women who constitute more than half of the productive population and can make significant contributions towards Kenya’s development. To the graduates, congratulations! All your hard work and perseverance have led you to this proud moment in your lives. You are an inspiration to us all, and I know you will continue to make us proud,” he said.
The training provided is certified by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and the National Construction Authority (NCA) through Arc Skills, a leading provider of skills and development solutions for schools, universities, and businesses.
“Today, we celebrate not just a graduation but the beginning of a change, a ripple effect that these women will create in their communities,” said World Vision Kenya national director Gilbert Kamanga.
