By REUBEN OLITA
July 16, 2026|As Kenya joined the rest of the world in marking World Youth Skills Day, a community organisation in Teso North launched a new initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment by equipping young women with practical, market-driven skills.
Jenga AfriHub on Tuesday unveiled Beyond the Stitches: Pathways to Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young Women, a one-year programme that will train 80 young women in tailoring, fashion and design, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, branding, marketing, business development, mentorship and sexual and reproductive health awareness.
The launch echoed this year’s World Youth Skills Day call to invest in skills that prepare young people for the changing world of work, with organisers saying technical and entrepreneurial training can unlock employment opportunities and reduce economic exclusion among young women.
Speaking during the launch in Angurai, Jenga AfriHub Board Chairman Greg Odeke said the initiative seeks to transform vocational training from being viewed as a last resort into a respected and rewarding career pathway.
“Our vision is to position Jenga AfriHub as a young women-led grassroots hub driving empowerment across Western Kenya and eventually across Kenya and neighbouring countries,” he said.
Odeke acknowledged SHOFCO for funding and partnering in the programme, saying the organisation’s support would enable beneficiaries to acquire skills that translate into sustainable livelihoods.
“We are reframing vocational training from being viewed as a fallback option to an aspirational, market-ready pathway that creates dignified and fulfilling jobs for young women,” he said.
He noted that the project goes beyond classroom training by linking participants to markets, mentorship and business opportunities, increasing their chances of becoming self-reliant.
According to Odeke, the initiative responds to persistent challenges facing many young women, including unemployment, poverty, gender inequality and limited access to the formal and digital economy.
He called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, development partners, businesses and local communities to create market opportunities and ensure the programme remains sustainable beyond the initial one-year implementation period.
“Beyond the Stitches is not just about tailoring. It is about reshaping the future of work for women by ensuring dignity, fulfilment and leadership in our communities,” he said.
Each participant who successfully completes the programme will receive a sewing machine and raw materials as start-up capital to help launch their businesses.
Jenga AfriHub Founder and Executive Director Marian Abukayo Murunga said practical skills have become increasingly important as technology and labour markets continue to evolve.
“As the future of work continues to evolve, skills are becoming the new currency of opportunity. We must move beyond talking about youth empowerment and intentionally invest in initiatives that equip young people with the competencies they need to thrive, lead and create opportunities for themselves and others,” she said.
Murunga said empowering young people with practical and entrepreneurial skills would enable them to become job creators rather than job seekers while contributing to local economic growth.
SHOFCO Teso North Chairman and Busia County Secretary Stephen Onanu reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving livelihoods through partnerships with community-based organisations.
“We focus on youth and women by empowering them economically and creating awareness of their rights. We support community-based organisations through funding and skills development programmes,” he said.
Onanu revealed that SHOFCO sponsored 100 young people to vocational training institutions in 2024, with each beneficiary receiving KSh50,000 to pursue technical skills.
He added that the organisation has funded more than 200 community groups and five community-based organisations, including Jenga AfriHub and Tuinuane, while also supporting food security initiatives through subsidised tractor services and seed distribution.
Tuinuane Busia CBO Chairperson Florida Nandwa said SHOFCO’s support had enabled the organisation to expand its Youth Voice Project through poultry and horticulture enterprises.
She said 25 young people received poultry training and start-up capital, while 45 others were trained in horticulture and supplied with seeds, water pumps and other farm inputs.
“The projects have created employment opportunities for young people, promoted organic manure production and reduced dependence on chemical fertilisers. Many beneficiaries are now earning income through vegetable farming, egg production, brooding and hatchery enterprises,” she said.
As Kenya commemorated World Youth Skills Day, stakeholders said the launch of Beyond the Stitches demonstrated how community-led partnerships can help bridge the gap between training and employment by equipping young women with practical skills, business knowledge and the confidence to build sustainable livelihoods.