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KCB Foundation Expands Youth Empowerment Across East Africa
Youth Unemployment Challenge
Across East Africa, youth unemployment continues to weigh heavily on both communities and economies. Nearly 70% of the population is under 30. Each year, millions of young people enter the job market, but formal jobs remain scarce.
Many are forced into informal work or underemployment, limiting their potential and dimming hopes for a prosperous future.
KCB Foundation’s Regional Programmes
To respond to this shared challenge, the KCB Foundation has positioned itself as a leading private-sector driver of youth empowerment. Through tailored programmes in different countries, the Foundation is creating opportunities for young people to gain skills, access finance, and build sustainable enterprises.
In Kenya, the 2Jiajiri programme has trained more than 35,000 youth, supported over 150,000 jobs, disbursed millions in loans, and distributed 2,000+ business start-up toolkits. It has helped young people turn passions into professions in agribusiness, construction, beauty, and mechanics.
In Uganda, the Twekozese programme equips youth with vocational skills and financial literacy to transition into self-employment. In Rwanda, the Igire initiative enables youth to develop businesses that respond to local challenges.
In Tanzania, the Foundation provides enterprise toolkits and training to help young people sustain livelihoods in tough economic environments.
Collectively, these interventions have reached over 4.3 million youth across East Africa. The most powerful impact, however, is seen in the personal stories of transformation.
Stories of Transformation in Burundi
In Burundi, where nearly 65% of the population is under 25, youth unemployment is a serious challenge. Officially pegged at just 1%, the figure hides a harsher truth: most young people are stuck in informal, low-paying work.
Against this backdrop, the Iteze Imbere programme, a partnership between KCB Bank Burundi and KCB Foundation, has become a lifeline for thousands of young Burundians.
One beneficiary, Ngarukiye Aime Fortuny, trained in architecture but could not secure steady work. His passion was welding, yet he lacked the chance to pursue it. That changed when he joined Iteze Imbere.
KCB Foundation Expands Youth Empowerment Across East Africa
“Before the program, I had studied architecture, but I could not get enough service requests. I had a passion for welding, but I never had the opportunity to learn it. With the Iteze Imbere program, I finally received welding training. We not only learned the theory but also engaged in practical projects. After six months, we received financial support and toolkits that allowed us to start working independently. Today, we are confident, skilled, and able to take on welding jobs,” he says.
Today, Aime co-runs Tupos Group, a small welding and construction business that fabricates ecological garbage bins, gates, and public structures. Using social media, the enterprise has grown its client base and become a symbol of resilience and creativity.
“I urge every young person, especially those who feel hopeless and jobless, to seize this opportunity. With the right skills, we can build our futures, support our families, and transform our communities,” he adds.
Commitment to Lasting Change
Speaking on the Foundation’s mission, KCB Foundation Director, Mendi Njonjo, noted: “Our mission is to unlock the potential of young people across East Africa by equipping them with the tools, skills, and resources they need to thrive. Every success story, like Aime’s, reminds us that when we invest in youth, we are investing in stronger families, resilient communities, and a more prosperous region. We remain committed to scaling these programmes to reach even more young people and inspire lasting change.”
Through initiatives like Iteze Imbere, Twekozese, Igire, and 2Jiajiri, KCB Foundation proves that youth empowerment knows no borders.
It is not only about creating jobs but also about forging futures, nurturing passion into professions, and equipping young East Africans to lead their communities into a brighter tomorrow.
https://africabusinessnews.co.ke/kcb-afreximbank-seal-800m-deal-to-boost-vipingo-sez/
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