Technical training in Kilifi redeems youth

Malindi has been associated with drug abuse and trafficking for quite some time now, a problem that has shattered the dreams of hundreds of youth.

Many have dropped out of school, while others turned into zombie-like creatures due to the effects of drug abuse.

Areas like Shella, Barani Maweni, Kisumu Ndogo, Sea Breeze and Muyeye are notorious for drug abuse.

The narrative is, however, slowly changing after an NGO came up with a plan to offer technical training to the youth to acquire skills that can offer them self-employment.

Helping Hand for Relief and Development is tapping into the TVET system to help change the reputation by offering training to the youth to move away from the drug dens, popularly known as maskani in Swahili.

The NGO started offering training to youth last year through their skills and livelihood development programme, and the first batch of graduates also got start-up kits to go and start businesses.

The managing director, Musa Ibrahim, said they train them in different technical subjects, including basic computer skills, International Computer Driving Licence, henna painting for women and mobile phone repair.

“As you know nowadays, everybody has a mobile phone, and phones are damaged a lot, so they require technicians,” he said.

FOURTH CENTRE

Ibrahim said they started the centre in November last year at Barani in Malindi town, and already, 142 students are graduating in different courses.

He was happy to oversee the first graduation of the students, who had skills that will give them jobs without even having to tarmac, seeking work.

“This is the fourth centre for Helping Hand. We have a centre in Mogadishu, Somalia, Nairobi, Tana River and the other one is this one in Malindi,” he said.

Normally, he said, they pick students with different interests who completed Class 8, or Form 4 dropouts and those with diplomas or certificates.

As an organisation, they focus mainly on the passion of the students and train them in that field. For example, the girls who like henna painting are equipped with those skills and the tools they need to be more competent.

“Those who studied computer course, we give them computers to start cyber cafes,” Ibrahim said.

“We encourage them to team up into three or four to start a cyber cafe. Many county and national government services are done electronically, like e-licences, good conduct certificates and applying for a passport. And it's our pleasure to enable Malindi people, especially in Shella and Barani, to learn how to facilitate them.”

The MD said they have a capacity of 200 students per year and prefer to train students in three courses to have different certificates and skills.

He said the centre is recognised by the government as a TVET and the certificates are recognised in line with the agenda of the government to empower the youth.

Ibrahim said the aim of the centre is to move people from the drug menace bases so as to get technical skills to start their lives. The project will continue for the next 10 years.

During the graduation ceremony, which was attended by county officials, students and their parents could not hide their joy upon achieving the knowledge and even the kits for start-ups.

COUNTY SUPPORT

Among the guests was Zamzam Ali, an administrator from the Kilifi government. She was happy to see the youth graduating with different entrepreneurial and technical skills.

She said the county is committed to offering scholarships to youth interested in joining vocational training.

“Those who have graduated today, whoever is interested in going back to school, especially those who dropped out of secondary or did not do well in high school and want to repeat, there is a scholarship,” she said.

Ali said the county government has many TVETs, including one in Muyeye in Malindi, and those wishing to continue learning will be given scholarships to further their studies.

She said the aim of giving free scholarships is to enable youth to study different technical skills.

“Do not lose hope because you do not have money to go to school. No one will be locked out of the institutions for lack of fees. What is needed there is the passion for one to study,” she said.

She said it's time the bad name of Malindi changes for the better to ensure youth acquire skills instead of engaging in drug abuse and other immoral behaviours.

The administrator said youth need to change their attitudes and take advantage of the scholarship given for free to transform their lives.

Testimonies from the beneficiaries of the Helping Hand were touching as many are happy with their achievements, which they thought would never happen due to the financial challenges back home.

A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY

Harrison Kalu, one of the graduates, said had it not been for the opportunity, he would be on drugs due to idleness.

Kalu said he heard about the organisation from friends and thought it was an organisation helping Muslims. Only to learn they help everyone regardless of religious background.

“Helping Hand have enabled me to get a certificate for the first time in my life to graduate and wear these graduation clothes,” he said.

He completed high school but was idle at home, not knowing what the future would offer to him.

Kalu said the organisation took him from the streets to the classroom, and now he has acquired skills in repairing mobile phones.

Already, the NGO has given him equipment and plans to open a workshop for repairing phones, where he will be based.

He urged fellow youth to join the organisation to learn different skills and change their lives.

Sadia Bimkuu, a mother of four, is another beneficiary who graduated with her husband on the same day.

Bimkuu, a Form 3 dropout, could not hide her joy for the achievement. She said she learned a sewing course and is ready to go and decorate people's clothes for weddings and other ceremonies.

Further, her plan is to go back to school to complete secondary education so as to further her studies.

“Even though I am a mother and married, I decided to join Helping Hand to get a certificate, and once I complete secondary school, they will help me,” she said.

She said she graduated three times, in sewing, trauma counselling and business mentorship, and she plans to open her own place.

Her husband, Mundhir Omar, is from Shella, an infamous drug abuse hub. He said the organisation has come to rescue the youth who have been facing challenges in society.

He said the fees is affordable and they were given start-up kits as gifts to help them start businesses at home.

“I am happy because I got equipment to start my own business. Instead of taking my mobile phone to a technician, I can do 'first aid' personally,” he said.

Omar said he will join hands with fellow graduates to open a workshop and begin a mobile phone repair business.

Apart from mobile phone repair, he also took a computer course, which is an advantage to him.

 The NGO’s programme is a clear example of job creation through technical training of youths through the use of the talents they have.

There is a need for emphasis on TVETs to give youth skills that will satisfy the employment requirements of the 21 st century.