The project aims to expand an existing resource center to enhance its objective to build capacity and entrepreneurship among youths with low skills and low income. The project will provide tools and equipment, computers and other digital tools, internet connection, and basic library; which can be used by the youths to learn and make various products for sale and in return also make our Mwangabora solar lamps that are distributed to women in the community.
Over 60% of youths are unemployed or underemployed in Africa, most of whom in rural areas have little or no formal education, and most of the youth started school and at some point dropped out mainly due to poverty. Lack of skills and unemployment are catalysts for high poverty levels. As per Kenya government statistics, the poverty rate in Makueni county in Kenya is over 60%. Hence there is high poverty levels, and early marriage among girls.
The project will increase the efficiency of an existing youths resource center - a working space that offers vocational, ICT and business/micro-entrepreneurship training to youths with informal education, and provide them with seed funding to start micro-businesses from the center that utilize the skills.The youths also learn to make our MwangaBora solar lamps from old kerosene lamps which are distributed to women in the community.
The project will provide skills and create employment to over 200 youths who - with at least 60% female. The youths will utilize their skills to make various items for sale, set up micro-businesses from the center and increase their income; helping reduce poverty. The youths will also make Mwangabora solar lamps that will enable women in the community have clean lighting, save money they were using for kerosene and use the savings to set up other businesses.
