110 Youths and 50 Teen Mothers Graduate from Machungwa, Rafiki, and Kitale vocational Training centers
The 110 youths and 50 teen mothers who graduated from Machungwa, Rafiki, and Kitale vocational training centers today received their start-up kits from Child Rescue Kenya (CRK), a county government and CRK initiative to promote skills development and up scale the uptake of technical skills among young people.
In her remarks during the handing over of the tools, Education CEC Julie Kichwen praised the partnership between the CRK and the county, stating that the initiative will enable young people in the county to create jobs rather than rely on white-collar jobs, which are becoming increasingly scarce.
As a result of the partnership, the CEC said over 400 youths, including teen mothers, have benefited from the program over the past few years, and 95 percent of the beneficiaries have started income-generating activities.
As a result of the adoption of a training model that equips graduates with startup tools, vocational training enrollment is on the rise.
She said Governor George Natembeya’s administration will soon launch a plan where more youths in the county will be assisted to acquire startup tools.
Mrs. Kichwen said, “I encourage beneficiaries to use these tools to improve their living standards. This is an exceptional opportunity and we should applaud CRK for the program.”
The CEC further revealed that Governor Natembeya’s administration will ensure that 30 percent of bursary allocation is channeled to VTC through bursary allocations. This is because more instructors will also be employed owing to the high number of enrollments being witnessed.
Equipment and other tools will also be supplied to the VTCs, she added.
Child Rescue Kenya programs coordinator Stephen Baraza said this year the organization has spent more than a million shillings on tools and equipment. This has benefitted over 210 youths and teen mothers.
“I am happy to hand over the start-up kits to the graduates. We expect them to use their skills to create employment. We gave them sewing machines, blow dryers, mirrors, welding machines, wiring, electrical tools, and plumbing tools, among others,” Baraza said.
He said CRK will ensure proper utilization of the tools through their monitoring and evaluation department, saying the move would ensure that the beneficiaries do not sell them.
More than 170 youths will be included in the program next year, he said. He added that the organization targets three vocational training centers that include Machungwa, Matisi, and Rafiki where most of the students reside in informal settlement schemes.
In addition to CEC Education, Mr. Eric Wafula, Deputy Director of Vocational Training, was present.
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