The Media needs to proactively advocate for meaningful youth empowerment to facilitate sustainable development of the country.
Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Benson Muthendi observed that the media plays a complimentary role to the national government efforts, by challenging the youth towards economic independence.
“The media is a vehicle through which social change is achieved. You are a socio-economic and moral support system that helps the country achieve its desired objectives, through stories that create positive attitude change among our youthful population,” added Muthendi during a media engagement workshop at a Mombasa hotel.
The YEDF boss reminded the press of their influence in shaping positive trajectory among local youth through use of their respective media channels to reverse the youth disillusionment challenge in the society.
“The national government has set up projects meant to turn around the lives of our youth and YEDF supports the youth by giving loans, grants, training, mentorship and marketing of their products,” added Muthendi.
He further told the broadcast, print and online journalists to dedicate airtime and spaces for programmes and articles that highlight success stories of the Fund to encourage others to also benefit.
“Our media dedicates a lot of space to politics. It is equally important not to forget that journalists have a duty to empower our youth through stories that motivate and drive out the state of disillusionment,” he added.
The YEDF CEO also directed his field officers to act as the bridge between the media and youth by working closely with reporters while implementing youth projects.
“There is a lot we can achieve by working together to improve the lives of our youth, where many are involved in drug abuse, crimes and other activities that are not helpful to their lives,” observed Muthendi.
The CEO stated that the Fund has issued Sh 509 million to 21, 375 beneficiaries in Mombasa County since its inception in 2006. He said the majority of the beneficiaries have utilised their grants and loans to transform their lives and called upon the journalists to share success stories to encourage their peers who have not benefited from YEDF.
Muthendi added that although the fund uptake has tremendously improved, many beneficiaries were forced to either close their enterprises or restructure them due to the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic and persistent drought.
“We restructured the loans to extend repayment period for those who defaulted because of the pandemic. Some requested top up to revive their businesses or explore emerging opportunities,” he said.
Further, he noted that YEDF also works closely with national government administration officers, notably Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs to reach out to youth in rural and arid areas, where access to media information is challenging.
YEDF is one of the flagship projects of Vision 2030, under the social pillar. Its strategic focus is on enterprise development as a key strategy that will increase economic opportunities for, and participation by Kenyan Youth in nation building.
The Fund seeks to create employment opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship and encouraging them to become job creators and not job seekers.
It does this by providing easy and affordable financial and business development support services to youth who are keen on starting or expanding businesses.
By Galgalo Bocha
