Livelihoods Programme

Background and Problem Statement
U-Tena youth organization has existed since 2006 with a particular focus on developing financial independence among youth through beads, jewelry design, urban farming, sanitation business, and fashion design. Mentorship programs, market expansion support, and loan links are all part of our service. Unemployment is a global problem, which presents a particularly difficult labor market experience for young people. Although the region has seen relatively strong growth over the past decade, unemployment and underemployment remain major obstacles to utilizing human resources fully in Africa particularly. Based on census 2019 data, 38.9% of Kenya's 13.7 million young people are unemployed, further widening the gap between rich and poor. Unemployment rates among Kenya's young people are much higher than those among the rest of Kenya's population. 

Mtaani Initiative Four_Livelihoods Project

The project aims to creating and sustaining sound entrepreneurship opportunity to 512 youths in Viwandani and Mukuru to be able to revamp their business following the economic inflation due to the hit of Covid-19 pandemic. Mtaani initiative has the following expected outcomes:

• Sustainable income generating opportunities
• Sustained communication between youths’ groups, private and public entrepreneurship opportunities.

Youths groups fulfilling the legal obligation and linked to business opportunities...More

Healthy Food Africa Project (Imarika)_Livelihoods Project

U Tena is working with APHRC in the implementation of the Healthy Food Africa Project in Viwandani. The role of U-Tena is promoting urban farming activities in the community including training and supporting community members on urban farming to ensure spread and sustainability of the project. This is done through a series of activities, including:

• Setting up a model demonstration farm in the community that serves both training and food production purposes
• Mobilizing, recruit and train 100 community members on urban farming.
• Assisting trained community members in setting up their farms, monitor progress and provide support supervision.
• Monitor the implementation of their farming activities
• Providing the project team with periodic reports on the progress of urban farming activities in the community including at the demonstration farm and individual farms.
• Fostering partnerships with change agents and other relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainability of the Healthy Food Africa Project activities​...More

Inuka

In 2022, U-Tena Youth Organization initiated an income-generating activity of selling eggs. The organization engaged ten youths whereby they sent Kshs 150 on daily basis with one-off day per week. It’s an opportunity for youths to enhance their income with support of the provision of materials and pieces of equipment by U-Tena...More