The current phase of this project (2026-2028) will train 50 youth (25/year over 2 years) who face poverty and lack of opportunity with high-demand construction skills. Our 6-month training courses will focus on certification in the highest-demand trades: masonry, welding, tile fitting, and plumbing. SYSC will work with industry partners to secure jobs for graduates, and will support participants with wraparound services, including life skills training and health education.
It is estimated that 69% of the youth (aged 16-29) that SYSC serves from local informal settlements are out-of-school, unemployed, and lack basic vocational skills. This lack of opportunity makes many of these young people vulnerable to crime, drug abuse, poor health, and social exclusion, and perpetuates a cycle of poverty, dependency, and hopelessness. At the same time, Kenya faces a critical shortage of skilled construction tradespeople, which impedes economic development.
This project offers social inclusion and economic empowerment for disadvantaged youth in Nyeri and Kajiado Counties. Participants leave the program with the skills and trades certification to become self-reliant. SYSC partners with construction industry companies and contractors to secure mid-training apprenticeships and job placements for trained youth. Life skills and health education training (including HIV/AIDS prevention, financial literacy, and workplace safety) support youth success.
The current phase of this project will offer training and support for sustainable livelihoods for 50 additional youth and the families they support. It will reduce poverty and inequality in the informal settlements they call home, strengthening community resilience and social stability in three of Kenya's most underserved urban communities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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