Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan to sponsor 120 underprivileged students in technical training
According to the MP, the institute is nationally recognised and offers high-impact, market-driven courses that are fully certified, equipping students with relevant and in-demand skills.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan has announced plans to sponsor training for 120 underprivileged students next year, providing them with start-up support capital for businesses as a means of empowering the community.
He made the commitment during a graduation ceremony at the YMCA Technical Training Institute, which this year successfully trained 144 candidates across a wide range of vocational courses.
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The institute, located in Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji Constituency, admits Form Four and Standard Eight leavers, and community members who may have dropped out of school, providing them with practical technical skills to improve their employability or start small businesses.
According to the MP, the institute is nationally recognised and offers high-impact, market-driven courses that are fully certified, equipping students with relevant and in-demand skills.
"This project may appear small or insignificant to outsiders, but it has a huge impact. We are working in a community that experiences high dropout rates, with many young people unable to proceed to secondary or tertiary education," MP Yusuf said.
He explained that the sponsored students will be selected from Kamukunji's five wards—California, Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Airbase, and Pumwani—and later interviewed by the institute.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan addressing graduates at YMCA Technical Training Institute in Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji Constituency. (Charity Kilei)
The programme will provide partial sponsorship for training, and upon graduation, beneficiaries, particularly those opting for self-employment, will receive the tools and equipment necessary to start their work.
The MP noted that the majority of the graduates this year were young women, many of them single mothers who had previously dropped out of school.
"These programmes have a high immediate impact. They allow young people to become self-employed almost instantly, and there is always a market for technical skills. It gives purpose to the community," he said.
MP Yusuf emphasised that the programme is open to all genders, requiring only a willingness to seize opportunities. He further stressed the importance of multi-sectoral interventions involving social, religious, and community stakeholders to bring more youth, especially girls, into training opportunities.
The Kamukunji MP also addressed the growing demand for skilled workers in industries and businesses.
"The gap for skilled labour is enormous and can never be fully satisfied. We need to upgrade and strengthen the technical skills of young people entering the job market. The more advanced the skills, the better prepared they will be, and the technical sector can never be saturated," he said.
He added that education should go beyond acquiring technical skills to also include critical thinking and problem-solving, which are essential for navigating today's dynamic workforce.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan poses for a photo with graduates at YMCA Technical Training Institute in Shauri Moyo, Kamukunji Constituency. (Charity Kilei)
Speaking to the graduates, Yusuf said, "In the past three months, you focused, committed, and stayed with your tutors to acquire knowledge. Now you are ready to test your skills in the job market. Our doors are always open for you, and we will continue supporting your growth."
Daniel Mutua, Board of Management at YMCA Kenya, reminded the graduates that their background does not determine success. "What truly determines your success is the choices you make, the courage you show, and your attitude toward life."
Mutua encouraged the graduates to use the skills they had acquired, study hard, employ themselves, and occupy the spaces that will define their future.
The 144 students graduated in diverse fields, including Food and Beverage, Hairdressing and Beauty, Plumbing, Masonry, Welding and Fabrication, Automotive Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fashion and Design, Tailoring and Dressmaking, Computer Packages, and ICT.
The YMCA Shauri Moyo branch, established in 1952, has long been a cornerstone of youth empowerment in Nairobi. Over the decades, it has offered skills development programmes, civic engagement initiatives, health education, violence prevention, environmental conservation, sports, and recreational activities.
Historically a hub for boxing, the branch continues to nurture both physical and personal development. In addition, it provides accommodation for students and trainees, supporting access to education and technical training.
Through its initiatives, YMCA Shauri Moyo has helped thousands of young people become self-reliant, responsible, and active members of society. Its programmes have transformed the Shauri Moyo community by providing youth with opportunities to develop skills, gain confidence, and secure livelihoods.
With continued support from leaders, the branch is poised to expand its impact and empower a new generation of skilled, self-reliant young people.
In Kenya, the demand for technical skills is growing rapidly, driven primarily by digital transformation and industrial development.
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