Miss Stella Wairimu Githaiga, an SRD beneficiary, explains to Ms. Gloria Anampiu how to set up a Network.

The African Centre for Women, Information and Communication Technology on the 30th of June 2009, hosted the 7th careers fair and mentors’ day for its more than 2,000 beneficiaries, of its Youth Employability Program. The event took place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre grounds.

The Careers Fair and Mentors Day is a bi-annual initiative implemented by the ACWICT in partnership with the International Youth Foundation and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, through the Samsung Real Dreams Program in Africa. The program aims to increase economic activity in the region, particularly by promoting job skills and preparing young people for successful long-term careers.

Speaking during the event, the Executive Director of ACWICT Ms. Constantine Obuya lauded the program terming it a great intervention. She said the program aligns to the national development priorities as stated in the vision 2030 blueprint. “It compliments the social pillar of vision 2030 which is investing in the people of Kenya while also contributing to workforce development for the ICT sector which has been identified as a key player in creating wealth and employment”, said she.

Ms. Obuya also emphasized the importance of the career and mentor’s day as it provides the beneficiaries with an opportunity to see the future they aspire based on the rich experiences from mentors and role models. She called on the organizations represented to provide placement opportunities to the beneficiaries.

Her sentiments were echoed by Ms. Patricia King’ori, General Manager, Mobile Division, Samsung East & Central Africa who called on the girls to take up careers in ICT citing the changes in the modern economic structure. “Samsung is enabling young people across Africa to realize their dreams, through the Samsung Real Dreams program.” She said.

The event is an integral part of ACWICT’s Youth Employability Program and serves as a market place for program beneficiaries to network and interact with prospective employers and entrepreneurs, while also providing them with an opportunity to connect with business financing and advisory service providers such as financial institutions and government sponsored youth and women enterprise funds. In addition to the physical career fair and mentors event, the program also maintains an interactive web-portal that provides an online market place as well as virtual meeting place for program beneficiaries and their prospective employers, mentors and financiers. 

Mr. Cornelius Ombagi, from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and sports emphasized that the ministry was keen on supporting young people into employment even through such events as careers fairs.

The event attracted more than twenty five corporate and individual participants drawn from the public sector, private companies, civil organizations, financial institutions, Individual entrepreneurs and professionals.

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