Seventy-eight young women from Nairobi and Kiambu Counties have graduated from the DREAMS Construction Skills Training programme.
This initiative is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which equips the young ladies with vital plumbing and electrical skills, helping them break into traditionally male-dominated job sectors.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, which was held at the Sportsview Hotel, Kasarani, State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs, Principal Secretary Joseph Motari, highlighted the programme’s positive impact on job creation.
“Currently, only 3 per cent of artisans in the construction sector are women. Programmes like these are crucial in empowering women to rise above life’s challenges and build better livelihoods,” Motari said.
Dr. David Githanga, Board Chair of World Vision Kenya, emphasised the need for gender inclusivity in Kenya’s construction sector.
“Despite progress, the under-representation of women remains troubling, especially in industries critical for job creation. Research shows only 3 per cent of women are construction artisans, 15.5 per cent are contractors and 17 per cent are quantity Surveyors. Empowering young women with life-saving skills like these is essential to changing the narrative,” Githanga said.
The programme’s main objective is believed to empower young women, aged 18 to 24, by providing them with market-relevant skills that address both economic and social vulnerabilities, including the risks of HIV and gender-based violence.
The graduates, trained at accredited institutions through Project Safe spaces, are part of a broader group of 427 women who have completed the programme to date.
The training provided for the young women is certified by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and the National Construction Authority (NCA).
This has seen 84 per cent of them transition to internships and acquire decently paid work in various construction sites or launch their own businesses.
Funded by PEPFAR through USAID’s Tumikia Mtoto project, the DREAMS Construction Skills Training programme is a six-month hands-on initiative aimed at building resilience and providing young women with the skills needed to thrive in the construction industry.
USAID Tumikia Mtoto is a five-year PEPFAR/USAID-funded initiative that aims to promote access to county-led quality health and social services for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), adolescent girls, young women (AGYW), and their families.
Along with World Vision Kenya, the Family Group Foundation plays a key role in implementing the programme.
By Wangari Ndirangu
