Economic Empowerment, Youth & Food Security: Educate! Partners with Generation Unlimited and Kuza Biashara for the EKYAN Initiative

Educate! is thrilled to join the Engaging Kenyan Youth in Agriculture and Nutrition (EKYAN) program, collaborating with Generation Unlimited’s Global Youth Agribusiness Network (GYAN), Kuza Biashara, and UNICEF Kenya. This initiative is set to transform the role of young people — particularly young women — in the agriculture sector, a powerhouse of the Kenyan economy.

UNICEF’s Moses Katembu and SkillUp trainers Grace Mueni Kalondu and Joel Musyoka Kawawa show off honey produced in Kitui, Kenya.

As a partner in the EKYAN network, we will make our contribution through our innovative livelihoods bootcamp, SkillUp. Aligned with this year's International Youth Day theme, 'Green Skills for Youth,' we will equip out-of-school youth with essential soft and agri-business skills. A recent Educate! bootcamp targeting 1,000 youth (majority girls) in Kenya, led to impressive results three months later, with an increase in average income of over 100%.

The bootcamps with EKYAN aim to bridge the skills gap for out-of-school youth. Our commitment to measuring impact and investing deeply in monitoring and evaluation helps provide opportunities for participants to earn decent livelihoods and support agricultural value chains. 

Celebrating youth: Dr. Ababu Namwamba launched the initiative aimed at promoting youth economic empowerment and food security.

This effort not only contributes actively to the economic empowerment of youth, but also promotes circular economies in predominantly rural areas. It will help Kenya to mitigate climate change, elevate community-level nutrition, and enhance food security while also addressing the challenges faced by the most marginalized young people.

Launching EKYAN, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts Dr. Ababu Namwamba said, "Invention is about seeking solutions that our societies need. Youth are taking the green agenda seriously, making it real and tangible. 

“Our youth are at an advanced level when it comes to transforming our country, including those from marginalized communities. All they need is action now.”

Rachel Temoi, Educate!'s Director of Institutional Partnerships said, “We are delighted to join hands with GenU and UNICEF in the EKYAN program. We are looking forward to our collaboration and enhancing how youth, especially young women, perceive and engage in the agricultural sector. Our focus on agri-business reflects our shared vision to prepare youth not just for green, sustainable jobs, but to empower them to be tomorrow's leaders and innovators."

Educate! is honored to be a part of this transformative journey, emphasizing sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation. We recognize the immense potential of Kenya's youth and aim to unlock it for the nation's socio-economic advancement.