Youth in Migori have been urged to join community-based training initiatives to transform their lives and reduce dependence on political handouts.
Speaking during the launch of the Goma Technical and Vocational Training Centre in the Oruba area, Samuel Ouru said the institution aims to empower vulnerable youth through education and practical skills.
“Our goal is to ensure that young people are not idle and do not engage in criminal activities that can destroy their future,” said Ouru. “I call upon all youths, especially the vulnerable in society, to join this institution, gain skills and become self-employed.”
Ouru, who once lived on the streets of Migori town, said the initiative is his way of giving back to society by helping disadvantaged youth build a brighter future.
The centre, which operates under the Sagoma Community Based Organisation, will offer courses in fashion and design as well as Information Technology, equipping learners with practical and digital skills needed in today’s job market.
“This institution will change the lives of less privileged children in Oruba-Ragana, an area often associated with crime,” he said. “We want to shift their mindset and help them realise their full potential.”
He emphasised that fighting poverty goes beyond formal education and requires a change in attitude and self-belief.
“I am offering economic skills to these youth so they can create employment and stand on their own,” he added.
Ouru also appealed to well-wishers to support the initiative by donating equipment such as tailoring machines to enable the centre to train more students.
A member of the organisation, Alice Abuna, said the centre is open to all residents seeking practical skills.
“This institution is not only for vulnerable youth but for anyone in the community who wants to learn tailoring and improve their lives,” she said.
Abuna warned that young people are often exploited during election periods.
“We are fast approaching the election season, a time when youth tend to be used by politicians through handouts to settle political scores,” she noted.
She urged parents to guide their children towards education and skills training as a pathway to self-reliance.
A beneficiary, Grace Achieng, said joining the institution had given her hope for a better future.
“I want to gain skills, start my own tailoring shop, support my family and even employ other youths,” she said.
Achieng also encouraged her peers, including school dropouts and young mothers, to take advantage of the opportunity.
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“I am calling upon my peers who dropped out of school or are doing manual jobs to come here, learn and become their own bosses,” she said.
The centre also aims to connect trainees with employment opportunities, helping them generate income and eventually become self-reliant.
By Kimutai Langat
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