Youth Skills Development and Empowerment Programme (YSDEP)

Programme Overview

Our Youth Program empowers young people in our community by providing practical skills and training to address the unemployment crisis. By strengthening Vocational Training Centres, we ensure they can equip youth with market-relevant skills, foster entrepreneurship, and build confidence, creating opportunities for a skilled, self-reliant, and empowered generation.

Focus Area

The main goal of the project is to see that Laikipia County VTCs have enhanced capacity to attract and produce innovative graduates with the skills and capabilities required to be integrated in the labour market.

Objectives Include:

  1. To Increase enrolment and graduation of trainees at VTCs
  2. To Improve performance and services of VTCs for the benefit of the youth.
  3.  To Improve the job prospects of artisans in the informal and formal sectors.

The focus areas are:

  1. Attitude Change Campaigns: Promote vocational training as a viable and respected career path through public awareness and advocacy.
  2. Systems and Structures Development: Establish policies, systems, and processes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of VTCs.
  3. Infrastructure Development: Upgrade facilities and provide modern equipment to support competency-based training.
  4. Industrial Linkages: Build strong partnerships between VTCs and industries for internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
  5. Institutional Strengthening: Support VTCs with capacity-building initiatives, including training for instructors and management teams.
  6. Holistic Skills Development: Incorporate life skills, entrepreneurial training, and digital competencies into vocational training to prepare well-rounded graduates.
Exposure visit to NITA Athi River with Rumuruti and Nyahururu VTC instructors
Laikipia county Assistant county commissioner admires some exhibitions by students from Baraka college during Rumuruti world youth skills day
St Martin CSA trainees using modern equipment at a Laikipia VTC”
“St Martin CSA sponsored trainees using modern equipment at a Laikipia VTC”
St Martin director handing over of motor vehichle diagnosis machine to Nyahururu VTC manager and instructors-photo by Nicholas
St Martins vice director conducting a spiritual formation session with principlas from Nyahururu sub county during SMS dialogue-photo by nicholas

Project Activities

Describe the programme’s current projects and activities.

  1. Developing Laikipia County Vocational Education and Training (VET) policy
  2. Developing transversal skills manuals
  3. Conducting Laikipia County Vocational Training Research with Laikipia University
  4. Runing an Entrepreneurship Competition “Changamka na Biz”
  5. Developing Vocational Training Centres framework/Model
  6. Organizing Career fairs in Nyahururu, Marmanet and Rumuruti from 17th to 21st Dec 2024
“St Martin CSA sponsored trainees using modern equipment at a Laikipia VTC”
St Martin director handing over of motor vehichle diagnosis machine to Nyahururu VTC manager and instructors-photo by Nicholas
St Martins vice director conducting a spiritual formation session with principlas from Nyahururu sub county during SMS dialogue-photo by nicholas
Sarah Roelker conducting a CBC training with instructors from Nyahururu and Rumuruti VTC-photo by Nicholas

Impact Stories and Testimonials

Reaching out to youth during the peace caravan on the international youth day CategoriesBlog YSDEP

Kenya’s Next Engine Of Growth Lies In Vocational Training

The Mindset Gap In Kenya, vocational training is often seen as a fallback option. Parents imagine their children in suits,…

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Panelists during Skill Up Africa 2025 CategoriesBlog YSDEP

Investing in Kenya’s Youth: The Key to Our Nation’s Future

Kenya stands at a turning point. Just as the Four Asian Tigers transformed their economies through investing in youth skills…

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CategoriesBlog YSDEP

St. Martin CSA Becomes ILO SIYB Partner to Empower Marginalised Youth Through Entrepreneurship

A Major Milestone in Saint Martin CSA’s Entrepreneurship Journey March 2025 marked a major milestone for Saint Martin CSA as…

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CategoriesBlog YSDEP

St. Martin CSA’s Youth Programme and Laikipia County Government Host Successful Career Fair at Nyahururu VTC

On May 23rd, the Youth Programme, in collaboration with the Laikipia County Government, successfully organized a career fair at Nyahururu…

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Comundo Partners Meeting In St. Martin CSA, Nyahururu CategoriesBlog YSDEP

St. Martin CSA Hosts Comundo Annual Meeting

Strengthening Vocational Training in Kenya: Comundo’s 2025 Annual Partner Meeting at St. Martin CSA From May 4th to 7th, 2025,…

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“St Martin CSA sponsored trainees using modern equipment at a Laikipia VTC” CategoriesBlog YSDEP

Empowering Kenyan Youth through TVET: A St. Martin CSA Perspective

Representing a substantial 75% of Kenya’s total population, the nation’s youth constitute a powerful demographic force, presenting both a considerable…

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Achievements and Metrics

Under the current Youth Skills Development & Empowerment Project we have;

People reached through Awareness Creation and Campaign to change attitude towards VTCs
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Vulnerable Youths Supported to pursue Vocational Skills Training
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VTCs upgrades with modern tools and equipment’s
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Industry Partners brought on board for attachment and Dual VET program
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Trained Secondary School Teachers on Career guidance and counselling
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instructors capacity build on Competency Based Pedagogy and transversal skills development
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