Why the Youth Innovation Centre (YIC)

It all started as a Vocational Training College. The program has been using  an integrated training approach which incorporates technical skills training, entrepreneurship development and life skills with the aim of enhancing employability among the youth living within the most vulnerable communities in Nairobi's non-formal settlements.

 

Therefore different ways of ensuring sustainability of the program are applied, this which include linking the program to Self Help Groups, participation of local artisans as trainers and formation of youth groups to enhance the output of the program. But this is not enough, many youth still remain unemployed poverty is still an issue.

 

With the little they earn, it is barely  enough to support themselves and their families. Many young people are engaged in informal sector, performing unskilled, low-paying and precarious jobs and other have engaged themselves in businesses which have stalled due to lack of innovativeness, support and necessary support. The project aims at establishing and equipping a centre for innovation, which will identify, nurture, support, monitor, and mentor and strengthens youth owned innovative enterprise to give them a competitive edge in the market. The youths will be able to recreate community challenges into great business opportunities improved livelihoods of youths.

 

 

ECC Youth Innovation Centre Launch

The Youth Innovation Centre, an initiative at ECC that targets the young population especially, from the marginalized communities of Kamukunji, Starehe and Embakasi constituencies was launched today at PCEA Eastleigh Community Centre. The initiative is also targeting various leading financial institutions, Government Institutions multi-national organizations and diplomatic missions among them European Union, USAID, ILO and the Germany Embassy among others.

It was not just a cake but symbolised an innovation centre that would Identify Nurture, Support, Strengthen, Monitor and Mentor, youth innovative enterprises for the job market.

 

Kamukunji Area MP. Hon. Mr. Yusuf Hassan Abdi, the chief guest congratulated the ECC management for coming up with such an initiative that empowers the young population for the job creation. He also urged the youth to shun crime and engage in such initiatives that leed to the development of the country. He said "Tunawakatakaa wale wanao leta fujo na kuwaganisha watu kidini na kikabila|." (we defy those who want to bring violence and cut us across religion and tribal lines.)

The invited guests during the Launch.

A group from Makadara, Utamaduni Ngomas entertaining the audience during the occasion. 

Rev. Kareri Primary School Celebrates the Dawn in Leadership for the Somalia Goverment.

Two decades with war must have been a very tough moment for the country Somalia.

Rev. Kareri Primary School celebrate the ushering in of a New President

Just after the assembly and before the beginning of today's first lesson, in the early hours of the morning, pupils from Rev. Kareri Primary School gathered in big numbers and moved to the ECC Director's office to request for a day in order to celebrate the presidential elections that led to selection of Hassan Sheikh Muhamud as the new president. Somalia had been engaged in civil war for the past two decades forcing the citizens of to run away to neighboring countries Kenya being one of them.

Rev. Kareri Primary School under ECC has been a host to most of the children from refugee families from Somalia, with almost 80% of the school population made up of refugee children, hence need to celebrate. With the government we hope that peace will restore back to Somalia.

Rev. Kareri Primary pupils moving towards the towards the ECC's Director office.

They joy in their hearts could be right through their eyes as they came through the reception.

Rev. Kareri Primary School pupils in a meeting with the ECC Director, Mr Nyaga at his office.

The young faces showed a lot of optimism and hope for peace for the Country Somalia. This included even the Non-Somalis.

ECC Identifies Youth Innovative Enterprises for Support.

Yesterday, ECC Staff were out to visit various Youth Innovative Enterprises from communities within Embakasi, Starehe and Kamukunji constituencies. The visit comes at the moment when ECC is to launch an Innovation Centre that targets these Youth Enterprises and others to support, nurture, mentor and strengthen them for a competitive edge in the market. The Launch which is to be held on 14th September 2012 targets over 1000 youth from the marginalized communities

(Right) Mr. Steve Collins, a program Manager at ECC in one of the youth groups in Makadara, Starehe Constituency, (left) a lady representative from the youth groups.

Mr. Matheus Chege, a program officer during the visit.

In order to reach the target market, they not only keep animals but also do Crop farming for enterprise.

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Its a new term at Rev. Kareri

This week a lot of things are going to be happening at the centre. The August holiday is over and pupils from Rev. Kareri Primary are back for the last term of the year despite the national strike for primary school teachers. Learning is as usual at Rev. Rev Kareri, the teachers are at work but the pupils' turn up is still low.
The RAJO women (an Urban Refugee Women Program at ECC that gives English and Kiswahili literacy to refugee women in Nairobi) are also back from a 3 weeks break.
The Youth Innovation Centre Launch is nearing and this week, a lot of preparations are under way. This Friday we are conducting an ECC face lift initiative that is will most part of the institution. Keep in touch and and get informed about the Youth Innovation Centre.

Rev. Kareri Primary School pupils during the break time.

Catering students from the Vocational Training Collage at ECC.

At ECC we do it practically to equip the youth with skills that will give them a competitive edge in the market.

We nature talent!

Rev. Kareri Primary School Breaks for the August Holiday

The August vacation is here and pupils from Rev. Kareri are already breaking for holiday maybe to hook up with family and friends after the long second term of the year. A fortnight ago, the pupils were busy doing their end of term exams and today the best pupils will be rewarded with gifts and presents for the good work done. 

The Head teacher Mr. Peter Waweru will be addressing the pupils in speech to mark the closure of the term as the other teachers reward the best pupils. 

Pupils from Rev. Kareri Primary School at the hall for the closure ceremony.

They all were eyeing the other pupils as they received presents. 

Mr. Kibe, a teacher at Rev Kareri Primary at the hall.

Mr. Kibe a midst the pupils maybe to maintain silence and order.

Teachers Esther (sited) and Jane (standing) during the closing ceremony.

ECC's Director, Mr. Phares Nyaga as he introduced the visitors during the closing ceremony.

It was a blessing receiving visitors on such a day. May God  bless  our  visitors. Welcome a gain visitors!

ECC Environment Clean up

Its the first month of the second half of the year, the weather is not that friendly, some little cold but this does not hinder us from uplifting the face of our environment. The pottery department, Rev. Kareri Primary School, the children's playing ground at the kindergarten and the administration block were some of the areas that were targeted for the clean up.The clean up mainly involved planting of flowers to various departments.

(In white t-shirt) Mr. Steve Collins Odipo currently the Acting Manager at STED together with Rosemary the sec. at Rev. Kareri Primary School, receiving flowers from the vendor at the ECC parking lot.

After all that work, we needed something to feed our stomach. The coffee was perfect with this weather.

coffee!

The flowers were supplied to all the departments for planting.

They care about their little ones, that's why they had to clear the bush in the kindergarten's playground.

The pottery department had a lot of work to be done!

Mr. Leornard Msembegi, Hair and beauty trainer digging at the pottery.

Mr. Chege together with Mr. Njoroge as they planted an orange tree at the pottery department.

Working together!

At all of it we had to thank God for everything.  'wahamanaki' a south african song meaning thank you Lord. Lead by Easter Kimani a teacher at Rev. Kareri.

Everyone participated in the exercise include the staff at Rajo Women.

PCEA ECC has a new director!

Mr. Phares Mithamo Nyaga has been appointed as the new ECC Director. His appointment has followed the resignation of the former director Mr. Steve Kuria Muigai. May The Almighty guide and give him the strength to take the organisation to greater heights.

The Newly appointed ECC Director, Mr Phares Mithamo Nyaga.

The Social Trip to Aboretum

It has all been study! study! study! and nothing but study! to the trainees at the Vocational Training College....... wao! this sounds serious, very serious indeed. But now the staff and trainees at VTC decide to do it the other way, this time round, somewhere away from the class environment. They took it to the arboretum for a social trip. It was fun...take a look at some of the activities and games played during the trip.

The nature walk with Teacher Steve, Irene and the trainees as they went past the arboretum's main entrance.

This was the first game 'The introduction' everyone had to introduce themselves before any activity took place.

He wanted to enjoy himself, maybe that's why he decided to play the ball alone.