Tag: Ujuzi Manyattani

From Early Motherhood to Building a Life of Independence: Teresa’s Journey of Entrepreneurship and Growth

Posted on by nrttrading

In a remote village in Masol Conservancy, West Pokot County, Teresa Elolia is a renowned entrepreneur with a reputation growing as quickly as her ambitions. Growing up, her world revolved around family, but as the years passed, she realized that her passion could be something more. When an unexpected opportunity came her way, Teresa saw the chance to turn her skills into something tangible, setting her on a path she hadn’t anticipated.

Born into a modest household, her family provided a stable environment, allowing her to focus on what mattered most—education. However, Teresa’s life took an unexpected turn when she became pregnant in Grade 7 with her first child, yet despite the odds, she managed to complete her primary school education. But after joining Form 1, she soon became pregnant with her second child. Struggling to balance motherhood and education, Teresa made the difficult decision to drop out of school and focus on raising her children. At a young age, Teresa later met a man who fathered her third child. However, this relationship proved to be another challenge. The man, often lost in alcohol, could barely provide for the family. Left with no choice, Teresa parted ways with him and returned to her parents’ home.

With limited options and children to care for, Teresa began wondering how she could change her life’s trajectory. In 2022, through MashinaniWORKS’ Ujuzi Manyattani program, with the support of USAID, Teresa found hope. One of the local community members informed Teresa’s father, who didn’t hesitate to submit her name for enrollment. The beauty of Ujuzi Manyattani lay in its inclusivity—there were no education-level restrictions. Teresa eagerly chose to pursue catering, a craft she had always been passionate about.

Teresa, second row, first from the right during the Masol Ujuzi Manyattani graduation in 2022

“A few months into the training, I noticed a gap in the local market for baked goods like cakes, donuts, and mandazi, and I seized the opportunity,”

With just a packet of wheat flour and cooking oil, she prepared small batches and hawked them to nearby shops while juggling her studies. This helped her earn an income while getting popular for her services.

Upon graduating with her catering certificate and receiving a tool kit from the program, Teresa fully launched herself into the business world. Her catering skills allowed her to expand her offerings, and she soon started selling maize, beans, and sugar to local hotels, making around KES 12,000 from these sales alone. On a good day, Teresa’s catering business, including a mini hotel, brings in up to KES 6,000. Even on slower days, she can at least make KES 1,000—enough to sustain her family and ensure her children attend school. She no longer relies on her parents for financial support but also helps take care of her siblings; her stability has brought her a sense of independence she once only dreamed of.

With the growing settlement around the area, there has been increased competition in the local market, but the unique touch of her work and the skills she gained from Ujuzi Manyattani keep her ahead of the curve.

With dreams of expanding her business and even employing others, Teresa sees a future where her services are sought after far and wide. She also plans to invest in livestock, diversifying her income sources, and continually upgrading her skills to remain competitive.

From Shadows of Crime to Illuminating Life Skills: Evans Echwa’s Journey From Banditry to Entrepreneurship

Posted on by nrttrading

A large, healthy livestock herd is a pastoralist’s pride and joy.

For indigenous pastoralist communities, it is the main currency, the only one that truly matters, culturally speaking. In the vast expanse of Nakuprat Gotu Conservancy, a young moran named Evans Echwa toiled in the fields, herding his family’s livestock for years. His journey, however, was far from the ordinary.

Echwa, a 26-year-old with a weathered spirit, dropped out of school at the tender age of class five, burdened by the responsibility of caring for his family’s cattle. Little did he know that his challenges would be as relentless as the scorching sun that beat down upon the arid land in northern Kenya.

Drought and banditry attacks became haunting shadows, casting uncertainty over his family’s livelihood. Preserving the cattle family’s only source of livelihood became critical. As pasture and water supplies dwindled, Echwa moved the herd further from home in search of grazing fields. Sometimes, he would cover distances of up to 100 kilometers to ensure the cattle were adequately fed and watered.

Echwa at his garage in Kiwanja, Nakuprat-Gotu Conservancy

A life without the livestock was unimaginable!

As northern Kenya endured its fifth consecutive failed rainy season, Echwa’s greatest fear became a reality when the prolonged drought eventually wiped out his family’s entire herd. Left with no alternative source of income and being a lower primary school dropout, Echwa and his family faced a grim future. 

Faced with shame and the weight of family blame, he embarked on a daring journey to recover what was lost. In a desperate bid for retribution, Echwa joined fellow morans and raided the neighboring community for livestock.

The fateful raid unfolded with a tragic climax -Echwa was shot alongside his fellow morans, and some of his comrades paid the ultimate price. The merciless bullets sprayed upon them did not spare his comrades’ lives.

His Turning Point!

Lucky to survive, Echwa nursed back to health in the sterile walls of a hospital, where he found himself at a crossroads. With the ghosts of the past crimes haunting him and the loss of his comrades weighing heavy on his conscience, he contemplated a new path for his life. One that diverged from the shadows of violence and into the realm of a better life.

Echwa and his fellow Ujuzi Manyattani trainees during a two-day Yamaha motorcycle training in 2022 courtesy of Toyota Kenya

Determined to rewrite his narrative, Echwa faced the uphill battle alone, without support for his newfound ambition. However, fate intervened during one of his idle days. In 2021, he discovered that NRT Trading Ujuzi Manyattani was organizing a sensitization meeting at Nakuprat Community Conservancy. The vocational programs offered by the organization offered a beacon of hope for people like him who were looking for an opportunity to better their lives through marketable skills.”

Undeterred by his lack of formal schooling, he applied, half-expecting rejection. To his surprise, the opportunity embraced him. “I applied for a course in motorcycle repair, and I was surprised to qualify even at my level,” recounts Echwa with a spark of gratitude in his eyes.

The next three months became a transformative journey as Evans immersed himself in the Ujuzi Manyattani vocational training program that places trainers in the villages. In April 2022, he emerged not just as a graduate but as a symbol of resilience, armed with startup tool kits and a newfound sense of purpose.

Echwa and his fellow trainees pose for a photo

Echwa established his garage in the heart of Kiwanja village, located in Isiolo County, within Nakuprat Gotu Conservancy. He sees his enterprise as a business and a force for positive change. “Running my own garage has given me a lot of focus in life. I am no longer dependent on banditry crimes to survive. My mind is now focused on how to expand my business and be of more help to my community and family,” he says.

Evans Echwa, once a herder bound by the trials of the land into banditry, is among the 88% of Ujuzi Manyattani graduates who have embarked on self-employment through setting up their businesses, hence earning an income to secure their livelihoods.

Wheels of Change: Building Futures through Ujuzi Manyattani

Posted on by nrttrading

Early last year, NRT Trading Ujuzi Manyattani held a graduation ceremony that marked a significant milestone for 337 women and youth from NRT member Community Conservancies of Nakuprat-Gotu, Nasuulu, Ltungai, Shurr, Jaldesa, and Songa in Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit Counties. These graduates had completed various vocational courses with the support of the USAID Local Works program, the Royal Danish Embassy, the Embassy of Sweden through the IMARA project, IUCN Save our Species co-funded by the European Union, The Nature Conservancy, and Northern Rangelands Trust.

Among the graduates was John Galwersi, a young man from Karare, Songa Conservancy, Marsabit County. Before joining Ujuzi Manyattani, John worked as a boda-boda operator, braving the elements to sustain himself and his family. However, long hours on the motorcycle began taking a toll on his health, leading him to seek alternatives. Fortunately, through the Songa Community Conservancy management, he learned about a vocational training program targeting women and youth from indigenous communities with marketable skills to diversify livelihoods and encourage entrepreneurship.

John receives start-up toolkits during the Ujuzi Manyattani graduation on April 6th, 2022

John enrolled in the motorcycle repair and maintenance course, envisioning it as an educational pursuit and the foundation for a future business. However, after completing his training and graduating, he struggled to secure a job but remained persistent. With the start-up toolkits he received during graduation, he put them to work and undertook a couple of attachment opportunities with skilled mechanics to increase his grip in repairing motorcycles. He occasionally searched for employment opportunities and set aside some modest earnings.

To fill a crucial gap in his community’s need for motorcycle repair services, John used his savings of KES 5,000 to establish an auto spares and motorcycle repair shop. He stocked it with essential items for motorbikes, such as engine oil, side mirrors, brake pads, and tubes. John would conduct tests on different motorcycle models and repair various motorcycle systems, including engines, transmissions, and brakes.

John’s journey didn’t stop with technical expertise. Biashara Mashinani provided him with tailored entrepreneurial and financial literacy training in business planning, analysis, risk management, branding, customer service, and record keeping. This comprehensive training paved the way for John to run a successful business and expand his services.

John repairs a tricycle outside his auto spares and motorcycle repair shop.

From his business dubbed “Johntes Auto Spares and Motorcycle Repair, John earns a daily income of between KES 1,000 and 5,000 and has also created job opportunities for other young individuals in his community. His mobile services also cater to customers who face challenges traveling to Karare town, contributing positively to the community’s convenience.

John has encountered some difficulties in his business journey. He has lost quite a lot of money to customers who promised to pay back the money after repair but disappeared without fulfilling their promise, resulting in significant losses. Additionally, since he often orders materials from other towns, they sometimes arrive damaged, forcing him to order new ones and incur unexpected expenses. These setbacks, however, have not deterred him.

From owning a box of tools to having a fully stocked auto spares shop, John’s decision to be self-employed was the best he could have made. He now runs his business smoothly while growing his skill set and knowledge, monitoring all the profits and losses, choosing what to outsource to others, and being his own boss!

John advises other young women and men to acquire skills and enroll in programs like Ujuzi Manyattani, which offers vocational skills to address market gaps and boost and diversify the livelihoods of women and youth without disrupting their normal ways of life.

John is among the 88% of Ujuzi Manyattani graduates who have embarked on self-employment through setting up their businesses, hence earning an income to secure their livelihoods.

Rising Beyond Terrorism Scars: Mumina’s Extraordinary Journey from Tragedy to Triumph

Posted on by nrttrading

Insecurity has long plagued Kenya’s northern and coastal regions, casting a shadow over the dreams of its residents and inflicting pain upon countless families. Yet amidst this adversity, there emerges an inspiring story of a 21-year-old that encapsulates resilience, determination, and an unyielding spirit.

In 2017, a young girl named Mumina Omar, then in seventh grade, embarked on her usual journey from the Mararani villages to Kiunga Primary School in Lamu County. Little did she know that this ordinary commute in search of education would forever alter the course of her life.

Mumina and her fellow pupils were en route to school when tragedy struck along Mararani to Kiunga road. Their vehicle unwittingly triggered a landmine planted by a militia group, resulting in a deafening explosion and a fiery inferno. Mumina vividly recalls the horrifying moment, “the only thing I remember is a big loud explosion followed by fire.”

Trapped in the Boni forest, their remote location delayed rescue efforts until late into the night, leaving four of her fellow pupils dead. However, Mumina was not rescued then, for the impact of the explosion catapulted her far from her peers. She spent a harrowing night alone in the forest, consumed by pain and fear, eventually lapsing into unconsciousness.

It wasn’t until 11:00 a.m. the following day that Mumina was discovered during a renewed search mission prompted by her family’s frantic report of her disappearance and rushed to Agha Khan Hospital in Mombasa. After two weeks, her condition failed to improve, and she was subsequently transferred to Kijabe Mission Hospital in Nairobi. Tragically, the extent of her injuries necessitated the amputation of one of her legs three months later.

Mumina showcasing her tailoring skills during a National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) assessment.

The loss of her leg had profound repercussions, affecting not only her education, dreams, and self-esteem but also her family resources. Yet, Mumina’s indomitable spirit prevailed. With the help of an artificial leg supported by a good samaritan, she returned to school in 2019, persevering through bouts of excruciating pain to complete her education up to form four.

After completing her secondary education, her pains anchored her within the walls of their home, where she dutifully assisted her parents with minor tasks, her aspirations for a brighter future seemingly constrained by her condition. In a twist of fate, Mumina’s path crossed with Ujuzi Manyattani in 2023, a program dedicated to empowering young men and women in marginalized communities through the support of the USAID Local Works program. The NRT Trading Coast regional Ujuzi Manyattani Coordinator encouraged her to enroll in the program, and that’s when she embarked on a three-month training in tailoring & dressmaking course. Despite her fears and doubts, through sheer determination and the unwavering support of her parents, trainer, and fellow trainees, Mumina learned to sew a wide array of clothes.

Today, as you observe Mumina gracefully operating a sewing machine pedal, you might mistake her for any other trainee in the class. But her story sets her apart. She uses just one leg to master the art of tailoring. This remarkable feat was born out of necessity, a necessity that arose from a fateful day in 2017.

Behind Mumina’s radiant smile and confidence at the sewing machine lies a heartbreaking journey transformed by newfound life skills. She defiantly declares that the militia groups may have robbed her of one of her legs, but they never robbed her of her destiny. Today, we celebrate Mumina Omar as she graduates and is issued with the startup tool kits through the support of the USAID Local Works Program alongside the other 30 trainees from Kiunga Community Conservancy.

Mumina’s story embodies the human spirit’s ability to rise above even the most daunting challenges of terrorism. It serves as an inspiring reminder that determination can conquer adversity and dreams can endure despite the darkest of days. Ujuzi Manyattani is a beacon of hope that empowers individuals like Mumina by imparting a diverse range of vocational skills, from vessel repair, mobile phone repair, catering, masonry, electrical installation to hairdressing and beauty therapy, and motorbike repair and maintenance in eight Counties of northern and Coastal Kenya.  

Mumina receiving her certificate during the Ujuzi Manyattani graduation held on 31/10/2023 in Kiunga Community Conservancy, Lamu County in Kenya.

To date, 1,102 young women and men have graduated with vocational skills training and have been issued startup tool kits to help them earn an income and secure their livelihoods. The graduates of Ujuzi Manyattani inject over KES 60 million annually into the local economy through income earned, as per an impact survey conducted in January 2023. The survey further reveals that at least 88% of our graduates embarked on self-employment through setting up their businesses.

Sudha’s Journey with Ujuzi Manyattani

Posted on by Susan Methamo

Twenty-six-year-old Sudha Mohamed is a Ujuzi Manyattani beneficiary who graduated in January 2023 with a tailoring and dressmaking course, among 29 others from Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy in Garissa County.

Now, Sudha wasn’t your average girl next door. At the tender age of 17, she was married off, dashing her dream of attending university. However, Sudha wasn’t one to let life’s curveballs get the better of her.

Sudha had always been fascinated by beautifully mended clothes. She would gaze longingly at women parading their expensive outfits, wondering if she could ever create such masterpieces. Guess what? She decided to pursue her passion for tailoring; come what may!

Sudha joined Ujuzi Manyattani, a USAID-funded Local Works program that aims to empower youth and women in the community with valuable skills. She wanted to be a shining example for her younger siblings and make her dear mother proud. Through Ujuzi, she succeeded!

“Thanks to Ujuzi Manyattani, I received a tool kit on graduation day! I set up my tailoring shop right outside my mother’s store,” said Sudha.

She adds that the shop was to her advantage because she didn’t have to incur any extra costs like rent, electricity, and water bills, bearing in mind that this was supposed to be her only source of income and that her husband was jobless.

At the crack of dawn, you can find Sudha bustling in her shop, armed with measuring tapes, fabric scissors, and a trusty sewing machine. She meticulously takes measurements, jots them down, and expertly cuts fabrics, twirling the sewing machine like a pro. Sudha is a force to be reckoned with!

“What a stroke of luck that NRT Trading brought Ujuzi Manyattani right to our villages!” Sudha exclaims. “Now, I’m not just a tailor but also an entrepreneur. I’ve learned to plan my business, budget, and entertain my customers.”

With her newfound skills, Sudha earns up to KES 1,000 daily. Sure, it is not a fortune, but it is enough to keep food on the table and household utilities in check.

In a sea of competing tailors, Sudha stands out from the crowd. Why, you may ask? It is all because of the valuable advice she received from the NRT Trading Biashara Mashinani team. They stressed the importance of politeness and honesty with customers. Sudha is no “lying tailor”! She always keeps her word and finishes her work before the deadline. A true professional, indeed!

With dreams in her heart and a sewing needle in her hand, Sudha aspires to open a more extensive shop named after NRT Trading. She wants to be the talk of the town—a renowned tailor, supplier, and wholesaler all in one. And if that isn’t enough, Sudha hopes to inspire young girls like herself to enroll in similar training programs, empowering them to improve their lives.

From Tragedy to Triumph: The Inspiring Story of Peter Lepedo’s Resilience and Success

Posted on by Susan Methamo
Peter Lepedo at his Phone Repair and Barber Shop.

Peter Lepedo was just a young man when his world was turned upside down. The night of the banditry’s attack on his village in Baragoi is forever etched in his memory. He remembers the terror, the bullets flying, and the many lives lost. When he woke from the hospital bed, he discovered he had lost a leg due to injuries sustained during the attack. Many in his community saw him as someone without hope or a future.

But Peter refused to let his disability define him. He was determined to make a better life for himself. He enrolled in a phone repair course in the Ujuzi Manyattani program, which provided him with the skills and resources to start his own phone repair business.

Peter’s will to succeed paid off, and he now runs a successful phone repair shop in Karare town, Songa Conservancy. His services have been a lifeline for the people in his community who previously had to travel far to Marsabit town for phone repairs. Peter’s business has not only provided him with a reliable livelihood but has also given him a sense of pride and purpose.

“When I joined Ujuzi Manyattani, my life was never the same; it restored my hope and the will to live,”

Peter.

But Peter didn’t stop there. He expanded his business to include a barber shop (Kinyozi), which increased his income and provided additional services to his customers

Peter’s story is a testament to the power of determination and the impact programs like Ujuzi Manyattani can have on people’s lives. Despite his challenges, he has refused to give up on his dreams and has built a better life for himself and his community. His success has inspired others in his community, and he has become a role model for young people.

“Many in my position are begging in the streets, but for me, I am earning income through phone repair services,”

Peter adds.

Peter’s success story is just one example of Ujuzi Manyattani’s impact on communities across northern Kenya.

Ujuzi Manyattani is an NRT Trading program that builds the resilience and determination of youth and women in Kenya’s marginalized communities. The program provides training in various skills, including phone repair, hairdressing, and motorcycle repair, to help individuals build their businesses and become self-reliant.

Ujuzi Manyattani: Bringing Hope and Change to Northern Kenya’s Disadvantaged Communities.

Posted on by Susan Methamo
Fourth from Left is Mr. Maina Njane with Ujuzi Trainees.

In the heart of northern Kenya lies a program that is changing lives and providing hope to those who never thought they had a chance. NRT Trading Ujuzi Manyattani; is a mobile-integrated vocational training program that provides access to learning, adult literacy, and entrepreneurship skills to people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those without formal education.

Mr. Maina Njane with Ujuzi Trainees.

Partnering with institutions such as Kiirua Technical Training Institute and Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College, Ujuzi Manyattani has been making waves since its inception in 2019.

We spoke with Maina Njane, the Principal of Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College, about the program and its impact on the region.

Mr. Maina is an Electrical Engineer who climbed the ladder to a principal in February 2018, just as the vocational training institution was established. Mr. Maina is a huge advocate of the Ujuzi Manyattani program and has nothing but praise for it. “It’s the best thing that ever happened,” he says with a smile.

Starting from Right is Mr.Maina Njane, Mr. Ture Boru, NRT Trading Chief Economic Programs Officer with Ujuzi Trainees.

“We are very fortunate that we have accepted to be innovative, unique, and daring in this approach and for reaching out to communities we work with in partnership with NRT Trading.”

Maina

The approach NRT Trading takes in this program is what makes it unique. Instead of expecting the learners to come to them, they take the trainers to the learners.

 “It brings forth much excitement because we can see the level of impact that Ujuzi has brought to the region. The fact that the trainers can go to the learners means that they are able to provide training to people who may not have had access to it otherwise,”

says Mr. Maina.

As the program evolves, Mr. Maina believes it’s vital to integrate aspects such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and other trends within the technical space. He adds that the training can be universally accepted by linking with industries and engaging with national policy bodies like the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) and the Ministry of Education.

Ujuzi Manyattani is more than just a vocational training program; it’s a beacon of hope for those who thought they had none. With its unique approach to training and commitment to the region’s communities, it’s no wonder Mr. Maina believes it’s the best thing that ever happened. The program is changing lives, one learner at a time.

Light at the End of the Tunnel – Story of Jane Asimit

Posted on by Susan Methamo

Jane Asimit is a 38-year-old lady, one of the many beneficiaries of Ujuzi Manyattani. She is married and has six children; before the training, she was a stay-at-home mum and spent her days mostly sitting under the tree and talking to her fellow women the whole day. She didn’t get the opportunity to go to school because her father refused, but she recalls having an interest and passion for sewing and beading when she was around 12 years old. She made her first cloth, a shirt for her sister at that age, but she never got the opportunity to pursue her passion until she heard about Ujuzi Manyattani.

When Covid-19 hit in 2020, Jane’s husband lost his job. She knew she had to find a way to help earn an income for the family despite not having any skills to do that. She picked up odd jobs around, but the money wasn’t enough. That’s when she decided to pursue her passion for tailoring. She asked her tailor friend for classes and was told she would be charged 500 per hour, which was too high for her, but she was willing to do what it took because her family needed the income she would get after the training. When she was still looking for the money to go to her classes with her friend, she met someone in her home area who stopped her and told her about Ujuzi Manyattani. That felt like an answered prayer for her because they had a tailoring course, and she wouldn’t have to pay all the money her tailor friend requested.

Jane Amsiti talking to the Danish Ambassador to Kenya, Ole Thonke (second on the left)

She joined the program in August 2021 and did a course in tailoring. She was initially hesitant because she hadn’t gone to school and thought she would lag, but she was assured by the trainer that she would learn and catch up well despite her lack of writing skills. By the time she finished the program, her spoken and written Swahili was good, and she could converse a bit in English. She opened a small tailoring shop just outside her home. She feels that she has helped her community because now they don’t have to go to the nearest town to get new clothes or fix them; she has different designs that she makes.

Jane can now help her husband with the expenses at home and even take her son to form one. She wants to put all her kids through school and give them the life she couldn’t have before Ujuzi. She admires educated people because they have skills and can make something out of their life. Her biggest dream is to train others, expand her tailoring business, and take it to a bigger town to grow so that she can afford to take all her six children through school.

During the program, she learned how to draw designs, measure people, write them down in a book, make a profit, and sustain a business. She advises other women to see how miserable her life was before Ujuzi and how it has changed for the better. She advises them to join Ujuzi Courses and improve their lives.

Jane is thankful to the program sponsors and prays that God continues to bless them because they have gotten her to a place she never thought she could get to.

Ujuzi Manyattani has supported 574 youths and women in Northern Kenya; it is a timely opportunity for the graduands in Northern Kenya due to the growing infrastructure investments. The program sponsors courses that provide access to learning for people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds who cannot access formal education in Northern Kenya. These skills will prepare communities for opportunities in line with vision 2030 projects.

The training and graduation are made possible through the support of NRT Trading technical partners- TVET, NITA, Kiirua Technical Training Institute, Laikipia North Technical, and Vocational College with funding from USAID Kenya through the USAID Local Works program, Denmark in Kenya, the IUCN, Save our Species co-funded by the European Union and The Nature Conservancy in Africa.

Celebrations and Jubilations as 59 Youth and Women Graduate from Ujuzi Manyattani

Posted on by Susan Methamo
NRT Trading’s Chief Economic Programs Officer, Ture Boru issues a certificate to a beneficiary of the Ujuzi Manyattani program.

On 3rd November 2022, 59 youths and women graduated from NRT Trading’s Ujuzi Manyattani Vocational Training Programme. It was the fourth graduation of Ujuzi Manyattani skills empowerment training which has directly benefitted 605 people since its inception in 2019.

The 59 graduands from Ruko Conservancy graduated after a three-month technical training. They graduated in different courses, Tailoring and dressmaking, Hairdressing and beauty therapy, and Motorcycle repair and maintenance. The graduates now stand to increase their economic opportunities as northern Kenya aligns with Vision 2030. The vocational model aims to contribute to the Kenyan Government’s ‘Big Four’ agenda that strives to promote job creation; for youth and deepen industrialization.

Graduands sing as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony

“Most of us here are pastoralists; some of our livestock have died because of the prolonged drought leaving us with nothing. Ujuzi Manyattani has given us an opportunity to earn income through the skills they have taught us. I have never gone to school; my first school is Ujuzi Manyattani; I have learnt how to make clothes from the Tailoring and dressmaking course. It will help me earn income and create employment for other women and youth. Thank you, NRT Trading”

Faith Muge, Ujuzi Manyattani Tailoring, and dressmaking graduate.

Douglas Mutugi, Marigat Sub County DCC addressing the attendees during the graduation ceremony

The colorful ceremony was presided over by Douglas Mutugi, Marigat Sub County DCC. Also in attendance were Ruko Community Conservancy leaders, community members, Vocational training teachers, and the NRT Trading team.

“I would like to thank the 59 youth and women who sacrificed their time and commitment to gain skills through Ujuzi Manyattani training and thank NRT Trading for this wonderful program. As an administration, we encourage and support such Programs that improve community livelihoods. I request all parents to take their children to school as it is the only way to achieve economic growth in our community. There is a need for diversification of economic activities; to increase revenue in the community.”

Douglas Mutugi, Marigat Sub County DCC.

Graduands sing as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony

To date, Ujuzi Manyattani has empowered 605 young men and women to acquire vocational skills and take advantage of business opportunities in northern Kenya; about 90% of the graduates are semi-illiterate. The fourth graduation saw 30 men and 29 women receive certificates and toolkits to enable them to start business ventures.

“To our graduates, this is not the end but the beginning of a journey that NRT Trading will walk with you. For those who want to become great businesspeople and start businesses that will become industries, you are not alone. For those willing, we will continue training you through the NRT Trading Biashara Mashinani Program that develops the capacity of individuals and groups to start and manage enterprises.”

Ture Boru, Chief Economic Programs Officer.

Jennifer Putonoi, Deputy County Warden KWS, Baringo County issues a certificate to a Ujuzi Manyattani beneficiary.

Ujuzi Manyattani is a vocational training delivery model in which polytechnics place trainers in villages to teach marketable skills. By placing trainers in communities, Ujuzi Manyattani provides access to learning for people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; and those who have not been able to access formal education. It enables pastoralists to acquire practical vocational skills where other training facilities are absent; without disrupting their way of life. The training incorporates adult literacy and entrepreneurship skills. Trainers and tools move across villages, conservancies, and counties to provide equal opportunities to all ethnic groups in community conservancies. The skills offered include masonry, carpentry, motorcycle mechanics, mobile phone mechanics, welding, plumbing, electrical engineering, tour guiding, and solar installation.

Ujuzi Manyattani Programme has been made possible through the support and funding of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Local Works program and the Conservancy Livelihood Fund (CLF). Technical partners are Kiirua Technical Training Institute and Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College.

A Big Boost to NRT Trading Ujuzi Manyattani Program During its 3rd Graduation

Posted on by Susan Methamo
Vishal Shah, NRT Trading CEO awarding a graduate a certificate during the ceremony.

Three hundred and thirty-seven women and youth from Nakuprat-Gotu, Ltungai, Nasuulu, Jaldesa, Shur, and Songa community conservancies in Samburu, Isiolo, and Marsabit Counties have graduated from different courses in the Ujuzi Manyattani vocational training. Ujuzi Manyattani is a vocational training initiated by the Northern Rangelands Trust Trading (NRT Trading) to improve the lives of diverse people in the northern Kenya region.

The Ujuzi Manyattani programme sponsors twelve courses that provide access to learning for people from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds that have been unable to access formal education in Northern Kenya. In a collaboration between government and donors, the program has seen more youths and women from Isiolo, Samburu, and Marsabit Counties join the program, and graduate in various courses ranging from; Mobile repair maintenance, Motor circle maintenance, Catering, pastry and Accommodation, Tailoring and Dressmaking, Masonry, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, Electrical and Solar installation.

The ceremony held in Ngare Mara Ward Isiolo County, saw many partners, Donors, and Government officials attend to celebrate the mileage of 337 young women and youth in northern Kenya who gained formal skills to better their lives.

Ambassador, The Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi, H.E Ole Thonke who graced the occasion, encouraged the graduands noting that;

“Life at times does not take you in the direction you want, especially to those who dropped off from university or other classes, but as Morans or young girls who were married off, you can prove different through Ujuzi Manyattani vocational training. The skills will better you in your communities. It was fantastic listening to you graduands share stories of how far you have come to achieve these great skills that will change your lives.”

H.E Thonke, who was greatly impressed by the graduands achievements added that the Danish Embassy plans to increase funding to NRT programs, and its conservancies to ensure all this great work is progressing well.

H.E Ole Thonke awarding a graduate with a toolkit

“To boost this noble program, Toyota Kenya will sponsor ten best students trained in motorcycle repair and maintenance to further their skills.” Said Silvia Adani, Toyota Kenya Nanyuki Branch Manager.

Deputy Governor Isiolo County Dr. Abdi Issa thanked NRT Trading for truly bringing devolution to the Northern Kenya communities in terms of conservation, peace, improved livelihoods, and technical skills.

“Today am happy to witness one hundred and sixty women graduate from last year’s only six which is so encouraging and I urge our women to take charge in education and development agendas and many more should enroll in the subsequent training,” Noted Issa.

Director, Kenya & East Africa Environment Office at USAID, Aurelia Micko urged the graduands to use the skills gained to transform their lives and their communities.

“Ujuzi Manyattani is one of those positive ways that change happens in northern Kenya; and today we are witnessing that. We are here for you, we are here for the 337 graduates, and you are the change agents. You are no longer the leaders of tomorrow; you are the leaders of today, and I want to celebrate that with you.” said Auleria.

2nd from left is Auleria celebrating the graduates during the ceremony.

Ujuzi Manyattani program is a timely opportunity for the graduands in Northern Kenya due to the growing infrastructure investments in northern Kenya, these skills will prepare communities for opportunities in line with vision 2030 projects.

The training and graduation were made possible through the support of NRT Trading technical partners- TVET, NITA, Kiirua Technical Training Institute, Laikipia North Technical and Vocational College with funding from USAID Kenya through the USAID Local Works program, Denmark in Kenya, the IUCN, Save our Species co-funded by the European Union and Nature Conservancy in Africa.