The Aga khan foundation in collaboration with other key stakeholders is targeting to empower more than 400 youth through business entrepreneur training skills to boost their businesses.
The program dubbed, COVID-19 response program under Aga Khan Foundation Human Centered Design (HCD) seeks to strengthen COVID strategies for the vulnerable in the community among them jobless youth.
The European Union is the main donor of the program and is steered by Agha Khan Foundation.
Speaking in Mombasa during the training of the young entrepreneurs, Aga Khan foundation program coordinator Stelamaris Mumbua said the program is implemented in four East Africa countries namely Kenya Uganda,Tanzania and Mozambique.
Mumbua said they are partnering with six counties in Kenya namely Kisii,Nakuru,Mombasa,Lamu,
“We are celebrating the milestone the youths have made in creating solutions therefore we are supporting them to access training and give them grants to support their businesses,” said Mumbua.
In the Coastal region the program is being implemented in the counties of Kwale,Kilifi,Mombasa and Lamu with an objective to strengthen COVID 19 strategies and come up with interventions towards improving the lives of the vulnerable.
The implementer of the project are targeting to initiate business start-ups for the youth with a stipend that will ensure thriving of their businesses, as part of a recovering strategy from the economic shocks of Covid-19.
“We are also strengthening the health care systems by doing a lot of education to combat the virus, we are also supporting youth economic programs to access training on entrepreneurship,” said Mumbua.
Mombasa county director of Youth development Sabrina Yusuf termed the program a game changer to majority of youth struggling to economically stand on their feet.
“Since COVID 19 struck a lot of business for the young people who were affected, we took it upon ourselves to look for these youth groups to empower them with knowledge and skills about business,” said Yusuf.
Mohamed Suleiman, one of the beneficiaries, said the program will help many jobless youths, he is among the majority of youth who are searching for jobs.
“We are happy for this program, I believe it will change the lives of many youths.” said Suleiman who now wants to venture in the photography business through the help of the program.