Lunga-Lunga youth receive financial and business training to tackle unemployment

More than 30 youth in Lunga-Lunga, Kwale County, have undergone financial and business management training aimed at empowering them with entrepreneurial skills and economic opportunities.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Lunga-Lunga Youth Community-Based Organization (CBO), seeks to equip jobless youth with the necessary skills to start and manage businesses while creating linkages to financial support. 

The program aims to curb unemployment and address various social vices associated with economic hardship.

Lunga-Lunga Youth CBO Director Ibrahim Shaban said the training covers key aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, financial literacy, and loan accessibility.

He said that lack of financial knowledge has been a major barrier preventing young people from venturing into business or accessing available financial aid.

“This program is designed to empower youth by equipping them with business management skills and linking them to financial institutions,” he said.

Shaban noted that many young people struggle to access loans due to limited knowledge about financial requirements, hence the need for the training to bridge the gap.

He added that the initiative is part of a broader effort to create self-employment opportunities, reduce dependency, and enhance the resilience of young people in the region.

LYC Assistant Project Officer Christine Kioko said the mentorship program plays a crucial role in saving young people from the dangers of drug abuse and crime.

“The mentorship program is geared towards helping youth escape the pangs of drugs and crime, which are largely fueled by unemployment,” she said.

Kioko said the youth are also introduced to various opportunities provided by the government and NGOs to help them start businesses and create self-employment.

She said the participants are also introduced to mentorship programs and networking opportunities to help them sustain their businesses.

Kioko added that the trained youth are expected to become trainers of trainers, sharing their knowledge with their peers in different maskanis (informal youth gathering spaces). 

She said the approach is aimed at ensuring the skills acquired reach a wider network of young people, fostering a ripple effect of positive change in the community.

One of the beneficiaries, Hamadi Ndaro, expressed gratitude for the training, stating that it provided him with practical knowledge on managing business finances and accessing start-up capital.

“The program has opened my eyes to new opportunities. I now understand how to manage profits, save, and invest wisely,” he said.

Ndaro said other financial management skills learned include budgeting, record-keeping, and reinvesting profits.

Another participant, Asha Hamisi, said the program has opened her mind to the possibilities of accessing government loans and grants.

Hamisi said she was previously not aware about the various opportunities available to empower youth. 

“This training has enlightened me on how to apply for government loans and grants, which will help me start and grow my business,” she said.