Over 60 youth in Ijara trained in life skills and entrepreneurship in bid to tackle poverty

More than 60 young people in Ijara have benefited from a mentorship programme aimed at tackling poverty and equipping them with essential life skills.

Organised by the Ijara Impact Initiative (Triple 1), the programme provided high school and junior secondary students from Masalani, Holugho, and Bodhai sub-counties with the opportunity to engage with various resource persons on topics such as entrepreneurship, agriculture, career guidance, and general social life.

Abdi Hassan Mohamed, a youth from Bodhai Sub-county, said the two-day training was an eye-opener, as it inspired him to pursue crop farming due to Bodhai’s favourable climate and access to water.

“I won’t be stressed anymore about seeking a white-collar job. I’ve realised that opportunities for success are within our reach,” he said.

Sahlan Ali from Masalani expressed that she now intends to venture into business, as the chances of securing formal employment are slim.

“We were taught the reality – unemployment is everywhere. It’s time to pursue alternative, sustainable sources of livelihood after finishing my secondary education,” she remarked.

Fatuma Aden, Chief Executive Officer of the Ijara Impact Initiative, said the training is aimed at mentoring young people, particularly those in school, to build sustainable livelihoods and combat poverty.

“We are empowering them to adopt a holistic approach to address the multiple facets of poverty, equipping them with comprehensive and sustainable skills,” said Fatuma.

Yakub Yarrow, a youth leader in Ijara, noted that the initiative will have a significant impact on the lives of local youth.

He said that the prevalent mindset of pursuing white-collar jobs upon completing school or college has left many young people vulnerable when those opportunities fail to materialise.