Safaricom Foundation partners with Catholic Relief Services to launch Wezesha Vijana TVET Program

12 October 2023

The program is in line with the Foundation’s 2023-2026 strategy in education.

Isiolo 12^th October, 2023… Safaricom Foundation, in partnership with the Catholic Relief Services, has launched a Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program dubbed “Wezesha Vijana”, which will be implemented in Nairobi, Marsabit and Isiolo in its first year and scale to 4 additional counties in subsequent years.

The 3-year program funded yearly seeks to improve access to quality, equitable, and inclusive skills and learning opportunities for young people. Targeting close to 900 youth in the first year, the project aims to reach youth who are not in employment, education, and training. The programme will be implemented through the 3-pathway: recognition of prior learning; apprenticeship, and employment and business start- up support.

“One of the main goals under education in our strategic plan is to upskill the youth in TVET institutions by increasing access to training and employment opportunities while improving TVET infrastructure. By doing this, we hope to make these TVET institutions centres of excellence, and we will improve the delivery of TVET teaching and learning using technology and updated content,” said Joseph Ogutu, Chairman, Safaricom Foundation.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) will be the lead partner in the program, which places a strong focus on meaningful youth engagement, local community leadership, technology and innovation, data, and partnerships to ensure it remains sustainable and scalable beyond the project years.

“We are excited to partner with Safaricom Foundation to launch this project here in Isiolo County, where we can provide the youth with a chance at proper employment. To do this, we will equip the trainers with digital skills that will optimize their use of e-learning platforms and tools while also working to build digital literacy skills among the target youth,” said Rebecca Hallam, Country Representative, Catholic Relief Services.