Youth in Machakos County have been urged to fully embrace and apply for the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project funding to uplift their livelihood.
Speaking during the National Government Administrative Officers (NGAO) forum, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Wildlife Silvia Kihoro challenged the leaders to educate youth on the project and ensure they applied before the 12th of October when the application period lapses.
She asked them to step up sensitization of youths on the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) project to change their life.
The PS said an earlier call for applications had netted about 1.4 Million applicants countrywide but many did not go through the entire process or turn up for training as required hence the need to involve NGAO in the fresh applications beginning today.
The NYOTA project focuses on addressing unemployment, enhancing income generation and prompting a culture of saving among youth.
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It targets the vulnerable youth mainly Form 4 leavers and below who are unemployed or underemployed and are between 18 to 29 years of age and upto 35 years for persons with disability.
Under the entrepreneurship component 70 youths from each Ward will receive a Ksh50,000 capital grant to start or grow their businesses.
“Entrepreneurship is the most elastic sector and so we will be supporting youth to go that route.
We will also be inculcating a saving culture in them for a brighter future,”she said.
She added that they will also be helped to improve their employability through skills development, apprenticeship and job placement support.
County Commissioner Josephine Ouko said the project had come at an opportune time when the youth were facing mass unemployment.
“We are ready to cascade this process to the grassroots as NGAO.
I urge the youth to be patriotic and recognize that the government is doing a lot for them and that this is their country,” said Ms Ouko.
The NYOTA project is being implemented with funding from the World Bank.
By Stephen Muthini
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