Beyond Skills: Generation Kenya's Model for Empowering Africa's Youth Workforce
Imagine being a recent college graduate who is brimming with hope, only to be met with disappointment after realizing that securing a job is frustratingly out of reach. Unfortunately, this is a harsh reality for many youth in Kenya —it is estimated that it takes a university graduate an
average of five years to secure a job.Veronica graduated with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Presbyterian University of East Africa. She is also a mother of two children who had hoped that her degree would help her better support her family. “After completing my studies, I was really looking forward to utilizing my skills and earning an income so that I could take care of my needs and support the family, but getting a job became difficult,” says Veronica. Across Africa, millions of young people like Veronica are facing a labor market fraught with challenges, including high unemployment, a skills gap between education and industry needs, and limited access to resources.
In the midst of her predicament, Veronica has found support from Generation Kenya, a non-profit that acts as a catalyst for youth livelihoods and empowerment.
She is currently undertaking a ‘Digital Skiling’ course with the organization, where she is learning both technical and soft skills, how to handle customer inquiries, utilize proper phone etiquette, and effectively manage multiple tasks while maintaining high-quality service.
I’ve found a second family here at Generation Kenya. Once I acquire the skills, I’ll work hard so that I can support my two children and improve my standard of living.
Veronica, program participant of Generation Kenya
Building Resilience and Measuring Impact Beyond Numbers
Generation Kenya (GK) recruits and upskills young people who are historically marginalized or otherwise facing barriers accessing the job market, and places them in dignified careers across a range of sectors and professions, such as digital communications, customer services, financial sales, freelance, retail, restaurant management, and sewing machine operations.
Like many of her classmates, Veronica came across a Facebook advertisement on the various skilling programs offered by GK. She got in her application and was taken through a series of applications to ascertain her willingness to upskill. Veronica is now hopeful about her future, having interacted with other young alumni from GK who have gone on to find decent employment and have fulfilling careers. “I’ve found a second family here at Generation Kenya. Once I acquire the skills, I’ll work hard so that I can support my two children and improve my standard of living.”
Since its inception in 2015, GK has graduated more than 27,000 youth across 8 programs with graduation and replacement rates of 95% and 83%, respectively. While other youth skilling organizations often focus solely on quantitative outcomes like job placement rates, Generation Kenya acknowledges the importance of measuring the program's broader impact on young lives. They uniquely track long-term success, achieving a 50% employment rate for graduates who have worked for more than six years. Their framework captures pre- and post-program data on a range of indicators for both technical and soft skill development.
Building Bridges Between Workforce Needs and Youth Potential
Generation Kenya's core strength lies in its commitment to equipping youth with in-demand digital skills. Recognizing the burgeoning tech sector in the African continent, they offer targeted training programs in areas like coding, web development, digital marketing and cybersecurity. These programs are designed to be market-driven, ensuring graduates possess the skill sets employers actively seek.
“More than anything, we look for young people who have fire in the belly. We get thousands of applications, but we want to make sure that those chosen are willing to put in the time and effort to acquire the skills that we offer,” shared their Chief of Operations, Alvin Mukabwa.
They also collaborate with prospective employers to ensure that they scout organizations that pay decent wages and ensure a good working environment for young people. “It is crucial for us to partner with companies that offer our graduates decent compensation packages,” shared Alvin.“We know that we have trained our youth to compete among the best, and we are confident in their ability to perform and deliver results. It's a win-win. Employers see reduced hiring costs due to higher productivity, while graduates launch successful careers."
Holistic Support for Youth
Another of Generation Kenya's most distinctive features is a holistic approach to impacting youth. Recognizing that skilling youth is only part of the equation, their approach goes beyond technical training, providing young people with the emotional and mental tools they need to bounce back from setbacks. Their mentorship programs connect young people with prospective employers, experienced professionals and their program alumni who offer guidance and support as they navigate career paths. They also conduct psycho-social and life skills workshops that hone their resilience, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities.
A Model for Youth Development in Africa
Generation Kenya stands as a beacon of hope for young Kenyans and a blueprint for youth development across Africa. Their model is powerful because it tackles the root causes of youth unemployment and builds on youth’s strengths, equiping them with skills in a holistic way. Generation Kenya is paving the way for a brighter future.
It is crucial for us to partner with companies that offer our graduates decent compensation packages. We know that we have trained our youth to compete among the best, and we are confident in their ability to perform and deliver results. It's a win-win. Employers see reduced hiring costs due to higher productivity, while graduates launch successful careers.