Youth unemployment is by far one of the biggest challenges we face in Kenya and has been blamed for vices such as the growth of gangs.
There is a wanting imbalance in the ratio between the number of graduates released by Universities every year and with the number of jobs available to absorb the graduates.
The Government of Kenya, in partnership with World Bank, seeking a remedy for this, launched the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP).
About KYEOP
KYEOP aims at increasing employment and earning opportunities for youth aged between 18-29 years through various skills training and entrepreneurship support.
The project, which was launched in 2016 will run till 2021, targets to reach over 280,000 youth who have an education background of up to Form Four.
The project is coordinated by The Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs (MPYG), through the Directorate of Youth Affairs (DYA).
The project has four distinct components, which are inter-linked and aim to reach youth directly and indirectly.
Component 1: Improving youth employability
This is by ensuring that youth are equipped with the right workplace skills by engaging employers in training and providing work experiences to the youth, making them competent enough for the workplace.
Component 2: Support for job creation
KYEOP provides an opportunity for the youth to create their own opportunities by helping them launch their own businesses and promoting innovations.
Component 3: Labour Market Information System (LMIS)
The program aims to improve access to and the quality of labour market information for skills matching
Component 4: Strengthening youth policy development and project management
This component provides support for strengthening youth policy development, monitoring and evaluation, and management of the project.
Application Process
Youth interested to participate in the project will be notified as follows:
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A Call for youth advertisement will be placed on a national newspaper/s.
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A copy of the advertisement and other updates will be placed on the KYEOP website.
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The advertisement will be aired on selected radio stations.
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Youth Field Officers of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, and Gender Affairs at Sub-County level will visit various areas within the County to sensitize about the Call for Youth and assist interested individuals to fill out the forms and submit them online.
Requirements for Applicants
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Should be between 18 to 29 years of age.
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Have an ID.
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Proof of education level reached i.e. Form Four certificate.
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Currently Unemployed.
For grant applicants;
Requirements for startup Grants
- Be a youth aged between 18-29
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Have an education level of up to form four or below
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Not currently employed
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Not currently enrolled in school or planning to join in the next 8 months
Requirements for Expansion Grants
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Be a youth aged between 18-35
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Have an existing registered business
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Must be a youth-owned business
Requirements for Certification for Youth with Skills But no Certificate
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Be aged between 18-29
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Have education level of up to Form Four or below
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Not currently employed
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Not currently enrolled in school or planning to join in the next 8 months
Requirements for Certification of Master Craftsmen
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No age limit
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Must be an expert in a certain craft or skill that is useful to the society and have economic relevance viability
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Must be willing to undergo training to upgrade their skills
After the application, a computerized randomized process will be used to select successful applicants.
The selected youth will be notified of the results.
Training Areas
For formal technical training, applicants can choose from a variety of courses including; ICT, Catering, Fashion Design, Hairdressing, Solar PV Technology, Welding, Dressmaking, Plumbing, Mechanical Operations and Oil Pipeline Operation.
Others include Baking, Painting and Decorations, Plant Operation, Electricals, Horticulture, Waste Management, Mechanics, Beauty Therapy, Firefighting, carpentry and Food Processing.
Alternatively, one can choose to be trained by master craftsmen in areas of Agribusiness, Welding and metal fabrication, event planning, bead making, weaving, handicrafts and woodwork.
They can also engage in Agro-processing, mechanics, hairdressing, cleaning services, leather work, shoemaking, panel beating and spraying, dressmaking, landscaping, photography, fashion design, painting and catering.
Training Process
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First, successful applicants are required to undergo a two-weeks Life Skills Training that will equip the youth beneficiaries with adaptive and positive behaviour that enable them to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. Practicing life skills will lead to enhanced qualities such as self-esteem, sociability, and tolerance.
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They will then undergo a two weeks Core Business Skills Training will equip the youth beneficiaries with Business, Financial and Management skills that emphasize practical application of principles and proficiency-based learning approaches which contains 8 modules.
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After going through life skills and core business skills training, successful applicants who opt for Training and Internship will receive an eight weeks technical skills training and undergo three months of internship experience with a formal sector employer.
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Alternatively, vulnerable youth with limited education and those in rural areas. The apprenticeship duration will be five months and the trainer will be a master craftsman certified by NITA.
