NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, May 27, 2005

Global Education Partnership – Wundanyi (GEP) is a not-for-profit organisation located in the Taita Taveta District of Kenya. It has created a 12-week comprehensive training programme that focuses on ?entrepreneurship and work-readiness skills? for local youth from 15 to 24 years. “A clear lesson is that entrepreneurs are difficult -if not impossible- to create but they can be identified and supported,” GEP’s East Africa Regional Coordinator Tammy Palmer told APC.

Taita Taveta is one of the poorest areas of Kenya with a poverty rate of 66% — 10% higher than the national average. The youth in Taita Taveta can see little on the economic horizon that will offer them a viable livelihood. Access to traditional livelihoods is fast shrinking and most residents are subsistence farmers or squatters.

Over nine years, GEP has trained 948 students, with 944 completing the course, 113 being awarded business capital, and 47 owning their own business. Students are asked to contribute a “commitment” of Kshs 1000 (approximately $12.50 USD).
Story found here.