Local Entity :
Companionship of Work Association (COWA)
Synthetic data of the project :
Harambee contribution : € 39,941,.7
Contribution from local entity : € 4,437.98
Project duration : 2003 – 2004

The departments of “Work Training” and “Human Resources” were set up with seven full-time staff. 33,317 people benefited from the Orientation service. Contacts and collaboration links were established with 170 firms and organizations. 145 young people found employment.
376 young people altogether attended 21 business training workshops.
46 young people started up their own small businesses.
40 young people improved the standards and scope of the small businesses they run.

Description of the project :

The project’s goal was to contribute to the reduction of poverty by improving the quality of life of as many young people as possible, as being the most vulnerable sector of society.

The programme focused on the promotion of employment and self-employment through information, training, orientation and technical support.
Training courses were set up at COWA at Roysambu, on the outskirts of Nairobi, where they were given the use of three offices, a reception area, a classroom, a common-room and a multi-purpose room. The services operated throughout the whole of one year, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. The centre worked in cooperation with organizations such as AVSI (Association of Volunteers in International Service), St. Kizito VTI (Vocational Training Institute), local communities, and social organizations that brought together young people and local experts for training and advice on running small businesses.