The County government of Trans Nzoia in partnership with Child Rescue Kenya has launched a Ksh10 million sponsorship program that will see more than 210 students supported to join three Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).
VTCs under this program are the ones in Matisi, Kitale town and Machungwa.
Speaking during the launch of the program, the county’s education chief officer Susan Ngera said the program aims at ensuring more youth join the institutions across the county for technical skills development that will enable them to be self-reliant in life.
“This will see the 210 students from vulnerable families benefit from the program that will enable them to start their own businesses after the completion of the learning program,” said Mrs. Ngera.
The partnership will see 160 students enrolled in a one-year training on various courses including tailoring, masonry, plumbing, building and construction, hairdressing, and food and beverage/catering.
Ngera said the county government in partnership with the national government has built and equipped more than 31 Vocational Training Centres across the county – where 30 percent of the bursary funds allocation goes to VTCs.
On his side, Child Rescue Kenya program manager Stephen Baraza said the organization started the program after realizing that many of the street children in Kitale town have parents but the challenge has been how to cater to their needs.
“We began the program to ensure we empower the youth in the street to get a lasting solution through the acquisition of technical skills that will enable both the parents and the children to get a chance to change their lives,” said Mr. Baraza.
After the training, students who qualify will be able to get start-up tools kits in the various courses they have undergone, hence enabling them to start up their own businesses and change their livelihoods.
Among the 210 students who will be supported through the program, 50 are teen mothers who got pregnant during the long vacation due to the Covid 19 pandemic and have been neglected by their families.
“After the training, they will be enrolled in an entrepreneurship program where they will further be trained on the job with the various technical skills to enable them to learn and gain the required skills,” he said.
