A total of 13,000 youths from Garissa, Mandera and Lamu counties are set to benefit from a youth programme courtesy of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).
AKF’s North Eastern and Lamu regional manager Atrash Ali has pledged that the foundation will create opportunities for youths in these regions to promote self-reliance and end unemployment.
Ali notes that a huge number of youths in Garissa and the wider North Eastern region are unemployed, with a sizeable number still clinging onto hopes of securing scarce white collar jobs.
However, AKF’s plan is to train them on various entrepreneurship aspects with the intent to promote self-reliance and productivity.
“It is important that we give the youth hands-on training so that they can start their own enterprises instead of looking for white collar jobs that are hard to come by,” he observed during the youth advocacy training at the Lantern Resort in Garissa recently.
“We want to offer them an opportunity to be self-reliant. This will, in turn, reduce issues of desperate youth lured into joining militia groups,” he added.
So far, AKF has spent Sh8 million on 13 technical institutions in Garissa, and Mandera counties respectively while a further Sh4 million has been set aside to purchase more training equipment for technical colleges in Garissa and Lamu.
Ahmed Noor, AKF’s project officer in Garissa County said he was optimistic the programme will elevate lives of hundreds of unemployed youths in the county.
Garissa-based youth leader and activist Abubakar Mohammed Adan offered that such programmes are important for youths in the North Eastern region because they mould them to become better people.
“Young people need a youth branded platform from where they can speak powerfully, take appropriate action, and inspire a belief that will have a catalytic impact all over the country through youth-led development initiatives.
Abubakar Mohammed speaking at the youth advocacy training at the Lantern Resort in Garissa. [Source: Abubakar Mohammed]
Youth empowerment and participation is a dynamic cycle,” stated the 21-year-old youth activist.
Abubakar added that through such youth empowerment initiatives, national development, low unemployment rates and economic prosperity can be realised.
“When empowered, young people can contribute greatly towards good governance and democracy with a passionate desire to be conduits of national development,” he remarked.
#hivisasaoriginal