Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project (KYEOP) is a transformational project that aims to empower and uplift the wellbeing of the youth in Kenya, by equipping them with essential training, internship and business grant opportunities.
Through KYEOP, a flagship program by the Kenyan Government through the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs (MIIYA), young people in the country are empowered both economically and socially.
Young Kenyans who are vulnerable, unable to access education, those from poor backgrounds, those living with disability and youths susceptible to radicalization, have in the recent past benefited from this program.
Graduates gain soft skills and hard skills to enable them to live a holistic life. They are easily integrated into the society and attractive to the employment environment.
Graduates are trained on self-awareness, drugs and substance abuse, work etiquette, understanding government functions and services, volunteerism and entrepreneurship among other areas.
In Gucha, Kisii County, the students have started training classes, which will run for the next two weeks before another cohort is admitted. According to statistics obtained at the Elimu Academy training centre, the students comprise youths between the ages of 18 years to 30 years.
The non-residential classes which kick-off from 8am to 5pm daily has many of its participants coming from the surrounding locality to reduce commuter logistics for the students.
According to Gucha KYEOP Center Coordinator, Chris Opudo, the students are trained by a qualified team of instructors and mentors, who are selected on merit basis.
For a youth to be eligible to participate in the program, one should be a Kenyan citizen of age between 18 and 29 years, unemployed, not enrolled in school at the time of application or planning to join in the next eight (8) months with education level of up to Form-Four or below.
Besides MIIYA, other KYEOP implementing partners include, The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), Micro and Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA) and The Ministry of Labour.
Gucha expects about 152 students to participate in the ongoing KYEOP training at Elimu Academy Halls in Gucha, Kisii County.
By Misheba Alfred
