NAIROBI, Kenya- The Kenya Red Cross has kicked off the Youth Excel Implementation Research Programme in Murang’a County to address the unique challenges faced by young people in the region.
This initiative, launched at a Murang’a hotel, aims to understand and mitigate the hurdles faced by the youth, promoting inclusivity and self-reliance.
Immaculate Iteba, Murang’a County Red Cross Coordinator, highlighted the programme’s objective to sensitize youth in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan.
“The Implementation Research programme intends to understand the challenges being faced by the youth within the county and how to help them overcome those challenges,” she stated.
The initiative involves 15 youthful researchers who will traverse all sub-counties in Murang’a, identifying issues and proposing solutions.
Iteba emphasized the importance of involving all young people, regardless of gender or disabilities, in projects tailored to their needs. She urged the youth to support their peers conducting the research and to openly discuss the issues affecting them, ensuring the programme’s effectiveness.
Running for a year, the programme will focus on livelihood activities such as businesses and startup funding, aiming to enhance self-reliance among the youth.
Red Cross Youth Programmes Coordinator, Alex Ayub, underscored the significance of the research, noting its partnership with USAID. “The Youth Excel programme will provide crucial insights into how we can involve the youth in various initiatives,” he said.
The programme will also run in Nyeri County, with a similar initiative recently concluded in Kisumu County.
Ayub highlighted that while some counties receive more attention due to issues like drought and insecurity, the central region also faces significant challenges that need addressing.
The findings from the research will guide future youth-centred initiatives across the country, ensuring inclusivity and active youth involvement. “We want to discover the youth and all their unique challenges so that together we can come up with tailor-made solutions,” Ayub added.
Local youth leader, Bossbaby Mwongela, praised the project for giving young people a platform to voice their concerns. “Young people should take advantage of such programmes to change their lives and positively influence others,” she said.
County youth and gender officer, Ruth Njoroge, urged the youth to utilize available government funds to improve their livelihoods.
“We have the Uwezo Fund and Youth Enterprise Fund that help young people in business and startups,” she noted, clarifying that funds ranging from Ksh. 100,000 to Ksh. 5 million are available at affordable interest rates.
Njoroge also emphasized the importance of financial literacy training provided by the government, which equips the youth with the skills needed to manage funds responsibly and navigate life challenges effectively.
The Kenya Red Cross’s Youth Excel Implementation Research Programme marks a significant step towards addressing the unique challenges faced by young people in Murang’a County.
By involving the youth in research and offering solutions tailored to their needs, this initiative promises to foster a more inclusive and self-reliant community.
