Pan-African group empowers youth to drive community development in Ghana, Kenya

A pan-African social enterprise organisation known as VC Management and Consulting, has empowered youths with ethical leadership and entrepreneurial skills to drive development initiatives on the continent.

In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation said the youths who were recently inducted as 2024 fellows of the Transformative Leadership Training (TLT), have unveiled their various community projects across the African continent.

TLT is a programme designed to empower young Africans and facilitate their development of self-efficacy, ethical leadership skills, employability, and entrepreneurial skills across 26 countries on the continent.

The programme is funded by the Mastercard Foundation, through the United States International University-Africa (USIU-A) scholarship programme.

The organisation said the initiative will “encourage and equip young Africans with life and personal effectiveness skills to support their transition into productive adults”.

In Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the inducted scholars engaged in renovating four classrooms and installing solar power systems at Aduru Educational Center in Korogocho slum.

The fellows also focused on rehabilitating the counselling room at Kirigithi Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre, building of traditional rocket stoves, and supplying durable utensils to Glory Children’s Home in Kiamumbi, Kiambu.

VOCATIONAL SKILLS FOR TEENAGE MOTHERS

They also empowered teenage mothers with vocational skills in Kibera slum among other notable projects.

“Some of the alumni have started demonstrating the core essence of the training in the immediate communities and putting the newfound skills learned from the two-fellowship year workshop into action through community development projects,” the statement reads.

“Some of the scholars and group leaders — Dudi Nyok Luat, Tessy Umutoni and Boston Palanga — unveiled their projects which addressed Sustainable Development Goal 3, 4 and 13.

“In addition to the three groups, 12 other groups are currently implementing community development projects across Nairobi, making a total of 15 interventions.”

Commenting on the programme, Dudi Nyok Luat, South Sudanese refugee in Kenya and second year International Business Administration student, said the classroom renovations in Korogocho were undertaken to tackle urgent needs of the slums.

“Currently, 198 primary school children are forced to share a single overcrowded classroom, with three different classes being held simultaneously in that confined space,” Laut said.

“Our initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) – Quality Education, thereby catalysing a brighter future for Africa.”

Also speaking, Adeyemi Asaba, lead consultant at VSMC, said he is proud of the scholars’ commitment to contributing to the development of their communities.

Asaba said the project promotes cultural cohesion, community and social development in the heart of scholars and encourages sustainable development.