Students showcase digital projects at Kamukunji's California Ajira Centre

California Ajira Centre held an online workers programme on Thursday where over 60 students met to share the programmes they are working on.

The event, presided over by Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan, showcased various digital initiatives, including Avala, Toloka, and Timebucks.

Maurice Maweu, 25, from Kinyago, was among the students who presented their projects.

Maweu, who joined the centre in 2022, has learned data annotation and digital marketing through the education provided at the centre.

He is now in the process of opening his own digital marketing agency.

Maurice Maweu. He is set to form his own digital marketing agency after getting valuable training at the California Ajira Centre. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

After completing university, Maweu struggled to find a job. However, the training at the Ajira Center has enabled him to earn a living online.

"After campus, I was trying to make ends meet and look for something I could work on. That is when I came across the opportunity in digital marketing," Maweu said.

He noted that the training at the centre came at a critical time when he was close to giving up, but now he can meet his needs.

The California Ajira Centre, established in 2018, has trained over 4,000 students from Kamukunji and other parts of Nairobi.

The California Centre is the first Ajira community centre in Kenya.

Some of the students of California Ajira Centre. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

MP Yusuf Hassan emphasised the importance of digital literacy for the youth in Kamukunji. He pointed out that the digital sector is the fastest-growing employment area globally, and he does not want the youth in his constituency to be left behind.

"The biggest growth area is the digital sector. It is going to be the biggest employer not just in our country but all over the world. If you become a digital expert and innovator, you will have no boundaries," he said.

The center manager Christa Awino highlighted the importance of interactive sessions where students can showcase their work. These sessions help students identify areas for improvement and measure the success of their training.

"This kind of interaction helps us display the work the students are doing and gauge their success," Awino said.

She announced that these sessions will now be held quarterly to provide regular updates and feedback.

Regional coordinator for Ajira Digital, Dickens Okode, noted that the online workers programme primarily benefits youth interested in earning money online. He confirmed that many beneficiaries are from informal settlements.

"The online work benefits the youth a lot. It gives them employment as they make money online," Okode said.