Business Empowerment
Building Livelihoods in Kibera
Youth unemployment in Kibera and the wider Lang'ata constituency is one of the most pressing challenges facing families. Without skills, networks, or seed capital, young people struggle to find footholds in the formal economy. ETCO's Business Empowerment programme works to change that — connecting community members with training, mentorship, and real employment pathways.
Skills Training and Bootcamps
In partnership with organisations like the African Initiative for Rural Development, ETCO runs intensive business and employability bootcamps for young people. These workshops cover practical skills — from business planning and financial literacy to interview preparation and workplace readiness — with a particular focus on connecting participants to opportunities in the hospitality sector and other growing industries.
We run dedicated sessions for young women, recognising that female youth face additional barriers to employment and entrepreneurship. These sessions build employability skills and explore pathways into stable roles, including in hospital and hospitality settings where demand for workers is steady.
Advocacy and Opportunity
ETCO actively bridges the gap between community and government. Our youth leaders have met with senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, to explore sustainable development pathways for informal settlements. We convene youth from across Nyayo Highrise, Mugumu-ini, Karen, South C, and Nairobi West to plan how young people can access seed funding, networks, and government support.
Our ETCO Office
Our Kibera office in Soweto East anchors every programme. It is the coordination hub for feeding, youth work, and our growing cyber space — a facility we are developing toward self-sustainability, with shared responsibility for running costs built into the model.
What We Provide
- Business and employability skills training for youth
- Dedicated sessions for young women entering the workforce
- Connections to mentors, employers, and government programmes
- Access to networking opportunities with local leaders and MPs
- A pathway from training to placement in real employment