Finland supports vocational training for Kenyan youth
World VisionWorld Vision Finland has supported vocational training for youth in one of Nairobi's largest slums since 2005. With Finnish assistance over 500 Kenian youth have already gained professional qualification and livelihood.
The target group for the training programme are the 16-22 years old youth in the 150 000 inhabitant Korokocho slum. Many of the youth are AIDS orphans or otherwise vulnerable, often carrying responsibility also for their younger siblings. Besides proving for the youth and their families, employment benefits the whole society.
- If we want our country to find peace and development, we must give special attention to our youth, educating them, organizing jobs for them and teaching them lifelong skills. These things are extremely important, says Elizabeth Ongoro, Assistant Minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development, who visited Korokocho.
The youth of Korokocho attend training of 3-12 months and qualify for their own choice of occupation. The youth are also provided councelling and the basic tools needed for starting their own businesses, or for being employed in other companies.
Training is offered in information technology, hairdressing and cosmetics, catering services, tailoring, different kinds of machinery repair and electrics. The traditional role models are also changing, since several young women have already trained as qualified IT-specialists and men as hairdressers.
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