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September 25, 2025On September 7th and 8th, 2025, KCDF hosted the highly anticipated Annual Youth Employability Skills Programme (YESP) workshop, bringing together 50 bright, ambitious students across Kenya. These young participants are current beneficiaries of KCDF’s Education Scholarship Programme, which supports students throughout high school, university, and TVET institutions.
The workshop aimed to equip the participants with essential work readiness skills, preparing them to transition confidently from the classroom into the professional world. Over the two-day event, the students engaged in powerful sessions covering a range of critical topics, from financial literacy and CV writing to personal branding, soft skills, and character development in the workplace.
KCDF’s Executive Director, Ms Grace Maingi, warmly welcomed the students and commended their resilience, discipline, and academic dedication. She urged them to stay focused, resist distractions, and clearly envision their futures.
Purity Murugu, KCDF’s Head of Partnerships and Resource Development, also inspired the students to seize opportunities, work hard, and always remember to give back to their communities, an essential pillar of KCDF’s work.
Neville Lusimba captivated the students with a powerful talk on personal branding and using social media for positive impact. He emphasised the importance of discipline, integrity, and dignity in the digital space, reminding the students that their personal brand can open doors to life-changing opportunities.
Dominic Kavemba took the students through a frank and engaging discussion on sexual and reproductive health. With sensitivity and openness, he addressed key issues around sexuality, relationships, and personal responsibility. The session sparked honest dialogue, with students asking thoughtful questions about navigating these critical aspects of life. While advocating abstinence as the primary option, Dominic also covered other preventive measures, including the safe and correct use of condoms, ensuring students were informed, empowered, and prepared.
Sharon Thuo facilitated a workshop on Work Readiness and HR Procedures. Through hands-on exercises, students learned how to write professional CVs, structure job applications, manage email etiquette, and use social media responsibly in a professional context. Sharon also demystified key HR processes they will likely encounter in the workplace.
literacy. Her practical and relatable insights resonated deeply with the students as she explored how to save consistently, manage debt and credit responsibly, avoid the dangers of gambling and predatory loan apps, and make effective budgets to track spending and avoid waste.
McDonald Shiundu took them through key administrative processes, such as fee requests, upkeep and laptop support, and fulfilling give-back requirements as part of the scholarship programme. His clarity and thoroughness gave students confidence in managing their responsibilities moving forward.
Stacey Sakaja wrapped up the session with a strong call to action to join the Mentor Konnect programme, emphasising the importance of having mentors as guides, sounding boards, and motivators throughout one’s academic and professional journey.
As the workshop concluded, students shared heartfelt reflections about the experience. Many expressed how transformative the sessions were, offering knowledge, confidence, inspiration, and practical tools for life.
The atmosphere was one of empowerment, unity, and hope. Clearly, the YESP programme continues to be a cornerstone in KCDF’s mission, building a generation of young people ready for the workplace and prepared to shape a better, more inclusive future for Kenya.
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