As a way of empowering the youth, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has taken in a number of youths for training on how to sustain a business within the waste industry.
Through Sustainable Inclusive Business, 100 youths in Mombasa are undertaking training on the waste to value concept. This training was also art of the Creating Opportunities and Alleviating Poverty Through Sustainable Trade (COAST) Project launched in July.
The project aims to create awareness on waste management and increase the participant’s capacity to develop business cases through mentorship. Trainees will be able to harness their entrepreneurship skills, enhance access to financing and begin micro and small businesses based on sustainable waste management models.
Commenting on the initiative, Sustainable Inclusive Business Program Manager Ebenezer Amadi said: “At the end of the training, the participants presented us with business plans on various models related to waste. We congratulate the winners of the seed fund competition, and look forward to seeing them take root.”
“We believe that by educating the youth of alternative sources of income from waste will increase employment opportunities and enhance skills in business management and financial literacy by 5%,” added Ebenezer.
Since the beginning of the program, 19 businesses related to waste management have been created and 13 of the 19 businesses were awarded seed funding from the project. However, Mombasa County CEC Environment Dr. Godfrey Nyongesa Nato applauded KEPSA and partners in empowering the youth while contributing to the betterment of the environment.
In Mombasa, solid waste management remains a major challenge and a health risk to residents living close to dumping sites with about 900 tons of waste generated each day.
