Seeking for opportunities
Plastic chairs scraped concrete as youth leaders from Nyayo Highrise, Mugumu-ini, Karen, South C, and Nairobi West found places in the circle. Under ETCO’s umbrella, they had come to speak with Hon. Oduk Oginga Oduk about something practical: how young people across Lang’ata Constituency can move from good intentions to programmes that last — not one-off events, but work that pays tomorrow’s rent.
Hon. Oduk did not pretend that “start small” is enough without cash on the table. He spoke plainly about seed money — grants or loans — as the difference between an idea sketched on paper and a stall that opens. He pushed for youth to stay in groups, not because unity sounds nice in a speech, but because lenders and partners look for teams that can account for every KSh.
He also promised to use his networks where he can — introductions, phone numbers, doors opened a crack for ideas that are serious and sustainable. The room did not empty out into instant contracts; real life is slower than that. But a morning of honest questions beats another month of guessing alone.
If you mentor young entrepreneurs, fund small grants, or know a programme that matches skills with start-up capital, reach out. Youth are not “the future” in a poster sense — they are the ones balancing M-PESA ledgers today.
From Participation to Agency: ETCO at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab
Last week, ETCO represented Kibra at the SAIIA Youth Programming Innovation Lab in Nairobi — where the real question wasn't youth participation, but youth agency. Here's what that means for our nine programmes, and an honest look at what it takes to build sustainably as a volunteer-run organisation.
Creating Impact, Building a Better Tomorrow
At ETCO, we're committed to creating lasting positive impact by keeping our environment safe and clean while creating meaningful employment opportunities for our communities. Through innovation and strategic partnerships with like-minded stakeholders, we're working together to achieve shared goals that drive sustainable development. We're also conducting a comprehensive economic survey to better understand the project's returns, impact, and scalability—ensuring every step we take is informed, effective, and built for long-term success.
Planning Meeting with PSN - Waste Management Project
Today's ETCO had logistical planning meeting at PSN Office to discuss the upcoming waste management project... Good things take time.