Livelihoods Resilience – Africa Youth Trust

Livelihoods Resilience and Economic Empowerment

Livelihoods resilience and Economic Empowerment is a core pillar that focus on strengthening individuals and communities by providing them with the necessary skills, resources, and opportunities to improve their economic well-being and build sustainable livelihoods. It aims to uplift people from poverty, reduce vulnerability, and promote long-term sustainability, resulting in improved quality of life and community development.

Current Active Projects

Our Livelihoods Resilience pillar is dedicated to empowering youth to build resilient livelihoods that can withstand challenges and uncertainties. We believe in equipping young people with the necessary skills, resources, and support to navigate the ever- changing landscape of work and entrepreneurship. Through comprehensive training programs and mentorship, we help young individuals develop their entrepreneurial mindset, enhance their business acumen, and explore viable income- generating opportunities.

At the heart of our approach is the recognition that resilience goes beyond economic aspects. We address the multidimensional nature of resilience by emphasizing the importance of social connections and psychological well-being. Our programs foster a sense of community and provide platforms for young entrepreneurs to network, collaborate, and share knowledge. We believe that social support networks and a positive mindset are critical in overcoming challenges and adapting to evolving circumstances.

By integrating resilience principles into youth livelihoods, we aim to create lasting impact and contribute to the long-term success of young entrepreneurs. We provide access to resources, facilitate market linkages, and offer ongoing mentorship to help young people sustain and grow their businesses. Through our efforts, we strive to foster not only individual success but also the economic growth and resilience of communities at large. Together, we can empower youth to build livelihoods that thrive in the face of adversity and contribute to sustainable socio-economic development.

Shared Futures as a program seeks to empower Mombasa youth and labour market stakeholders towards supporting and promoting youth employment. The program also creates awareness of existing opportunities in the labour market and serves as a platform linking all stakeholders to a common goal of positively influencing and affecting decision-makers at the labour market towards youth employment.

The program's overall goal includes fostering cooperation between the stakeholders on youth and employment and the creation of networks for the sustainability of program goals. The program also targets 10,000 youth with information on possibilities of youth employment, and how to access more information, advice, training and assistance in the field of Employ-ability and Entrepreneurship.

The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the ability of youth and religious communities to address causes of interfaith violence and promote sustainable peace and reconciliation in the two coastal counties of Mombasa and Kwale. To empower the Youth in Kwale, Tana River and Mombasa counties to take the lead in tackling the root causes of violent extremism in their counties

The initiatives that we have carried out under the Economic Empowerment pillar have been;

Decent Work and Labour Rights Program in East Africa

In collaboration with the Forum for International Cooperation (FIC), AYT initiated the implementation of the Decent Work and Labour Rights Program in East Africa. The program aimed to empower the youth and other stakeholders in the labor market in Mombasa and Kisumu, with a focus on supporting and promoting youth employment. Through the program, various activities were conducted, including training sessions on Business Skills and Entrepreneurship Development (BSED) and Employability Trainings, which provided valuable awareness and skills enhancement opportunities in the existing labor markets.

HFG Youth Employment Initiative Project (YEI)

AYT, in collaboration with Hope World Wide Kenya and HIV Free Generation Kenya, and with the support of USAID, implemented the Youth Employment Initiative project in four counties: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru. The project was a significant contribution towards the goal of reducing HIV prevalence by 50% through the economic empowerment of youth.

Youth Employment Initiative of Nairobi (YEIN) Project

Guided by a common interest in improving youth access to the labor market, AYT partnered with Fagligt International Center for Uddannelsellnternational Center for Education (FIC) and One Stop Youth Information and Resource Centre - Nairobi to implement a Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) sponsored program called "Youth Employment Initiative of Nairobi". The program aimed at increasing knowledge and skills of young people on employment possibilities and entrepreneurship within the Nairobi area. These efforts included capacity building and the development of training and networking models.