FAMILY BANK DOUBLES INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR 2000 YOUTH

FAMILY BANK DOUBLES INVESTMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR 2000 YOUTH

By Grace Wangari

Over 2000 youth are set to benefit from

technical and vocational training in

construction through an additional Ksh.

60 million investment through Family

Bank’s philanthropic arm, The Family

Group Foundation.

Through the USAID Tumikia Mtoto

Programme, implemented by World Vision

Kenya, the Foundation trains young and

vulnerable women in electrical,

paintwork and plumbing with a goal to

strengthen the health and human

capacity by addressing the barriers and

their effects on HIV-related

vulnerable children and adolescents

while increasing the economic stability

of households to care for and protect

orphans and vulnerable children.

Speaking during the fourth graduation

of 100 young and vulnerable women of

the USAID Tumikia Mtoto Programme, the

Secretary Department of Children’s

Services Shem Nyakutu reiterated the

government’s efforts in upscaling the

sector.

“The national government is deliberate

in propelling key technical and

vocational skills through initiatives

such as the Affordable Housing

Programme and availing opportunities to

export skilled labour abroad,” he

said.

The importance of Technical and

Vocational Training (TVET) cannot be

underscored as it seeks to align with

Sustainable Development Goal 4 to

eliminate disparities in access to

education and ensure equal access to

all levels of education and vocational

training for the vulnerable, including

persons with disabilities, indigenous

peoples and children in vulnerable

situations.

“This project is the heart of our

Shared Value Initiative through The

Family Group Foundation and our

commitment is evident through our long-

term investment. It is an end-to-end

value drive for our youth. The youth

receive life-long technical skill sets

while at the same time undergo

financial training coupled with sexual

and reproductive health and soft skills

such as confidence building, public

speaking and eventually placement in

construction sites,” said Family Bank

Chief Executive CEO Rebecca Mbithi.

“We have seen over 80 per cent of the

youth trained transition to internships

and acquire decently paid work in

various construction sites. It is also

great to see over 30 per cent pursue

entrepreneurial journey and others

proceed to join tertiary institutions

and universities to advance their

studies,” added Ms Mbithi.

The program’s impact reaches far beyond

vocational instruction, acting as a

crucial instrument for reducing

vulnerabilities like HIV infection,

violence, and transactional sex. To

better prepare the trainees for the job

market, the USAID Tumikia Mtoto

Project equips all the graduates with

construction tool kits worth KES 50,000

at no cost to the beneficiaries to

jumpstart them for freelancing and

employment opportunities.

“The graduation ceremony for this

fourth cohort of trainees is a

celebration of perseverance, triumph,

and collaboration,” said the USAID

Deputy Mission Director Bert Ubamadu.

“The U.S. government is proud to

support these young women who

constitute more than half of the

productive population and can make

significant contributions towards

Kenya’s development. To the graduates,

congratulations! All your hard work and

perseverance have led you to this

proud moment in your lives. You are an

inspiration to us all, and I know you

will continue to make us proud,” he

said.

The training provided is certified by

the National Industrial Training

Authority (NITA) and the National

Construction Authority (NCA) through

Arc Skills, a leading provider of

skills and development solutions for

schools, universities, and businesses.

“Today, we celebrate not just a

graduation but the beginning of a

change, a ripple effect that these

women will create in their

communities,” said World Vision Kenya

National Director Gilbert Kamanga.