IYF Welcomes 20,000 Youths for Season 8 of the Free Weekend Academy

IYF Welcomes 20,000 Youths for Season 8 of the Free Weekend Academy

Nairobi, February 22, 2025 – The International Youth Fellowship (IYF) has launched the 8th cohort of its Free Weekend Academy, welcoming an impressive 20,000 youths to embark on a transformative skills training journey. This initiative follows the successful graduation of Cohort 7, which has already certified over 60,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to establish businesses, secure employment, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Since its inception in 2007, the IYF Free Weekend Academy has been a beacon of hope for underprivileged youth, especially those facing financial barriers to further education. The academy offers 31 practical, skill-based courses, including Plumbing, Carpentry & Design, Digital Marketing, Artificial Intelligence, Beauty & Hairdressing, Catering, Camera Operations, Fashion, and more. These courses are designed to equip young people with the hands-on expertise needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market.

The academy operates on a three-month weekend model, enabling students to balance their education with other responsibilities. In addition to technical skills, IYF integrates mindset education and character development, fostering confidence, discipline, and leadership in participants.

Speaking at the orientation ceremony, Ms. Emily Maina, Director of Youth Social Development at the Ministry of Youth and Economy, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the challenges faced by Kenyan youth. “As the Ministry of Youth and Economy, our mandate is to equip young people with the skills and mindset to succeed,” Ms. Maina said. “Partnerships with organizations like IYF are crucial in ensuring our youth thrive. While the government plays a central role, we cannot do it alone.”

IYF’s commitment to bridging the skills gap is seen as essential to combating Kenya’s youth unemployment crisis, which continues to demand urgent solutions. The academy’s holistic approach not only provides young people with technical skills but also prepares them for the evolving job market with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Through scholarships and collaborations with institutions like Mahanaim College, IYF ensures that top-performing students have the opportunity to further their education and continue building their future. The program stands as a testament to the power of skill-based training, mindset transformation, and community-driven empowerment.

As the cohort begins their journey, IYF remains steadfast in its mission to provide accessible, impactful, and innovative training programs that empower young people to make a lasting impact on their communities and the economy.



Popular posts from this blog

Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa

Image
Global Leaders Convene in Nairobi to Forge Path for Climate-Resilient Africa By Stella Ranji  Nairobi, Kenya – June 30, 2025 — A diverse coalition of global leaders, scientists, faith leaders, and grassroots actors convened in Nairobi today for the opening of the Vatican African Conference on Climate Resilience, a landmark summit aimed at designing a new era of climate adaptation rooted in equity, local knowledge, and science. Hosted at CIFOR-ICRAF, the two-day summit (June 30 – July 1) marks a pivotal step toward shaping a climate-resilient Africa, with an emphasis on decentralising climate policy and financing to reach the continent’s most vulnerable communities. The gathering is co-convened by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS), in collaboration with the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) and other regional and international partners. At the heart of the conference is a call for urgent, inclusive, a...
Read more

Cricket Kenya Launches CK T20 League to Honour Past Glory and Usher in New Era

Image
Cricket Kenya Launches CK T20 League to Honour Past Glory and Usher in New Era By Stella Ranji  NAIROBI, August 27, 2025  In a bold move to revive the nation's cricketing legacy and propel the sport into a new era, Cricket Kenya (CK) on Wednesday officially launched the CK T20 League, a franchise-based tournament set to begin this November in Nairobi. The league will pay tribute to Kenya’s golden generation of cricketers — the national teams of 1996 to 2003, who famously elevated the country to global prominence, including a historic semi-final appearance in the 2003 ICC World Cup. The new T20 competition aims to not only honour those achievements but also develop the next wave of cricketing talent in Kenya and across the African continent. The initiative comes after the signing of a lucrative partnership between Cricket Kenya and AOS Sport Tournament, a Dubai/India-based sports promotion company. The collaboration is expected to inject professionalism, visibility,...
Read more

KISM Reaffirms Commitment to Digitizing Public Procurement through EGP System Rollout

Image
KISM Reaffirms Commitment to Digitizing Public Procurement through EGP System Rollout By Wilson Amondo  Nairobi  September 3, 2025 The Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM) has reaffirmed its strategic support for the nationwide rollout of the Electronic Government Procurement System (EGPS), positioning supply chain professionals as a critical pillar in modernizing and professionalizing public procurement in Kenya. As a statutory body established under the Supplies Practitioners Management Act (SPMA) No.17 of 2007, KISM is mandated to register, license, train, discipline, and regulate supply chain professionals across the country. With over 28,000 members, the Institute is playing a leading role in facilitating the end-to-end digital transformation of procurement processes. “The rollout of EGPS is not just a government directive—it is a necessary evolution,” said the Institute in a statement released after the recent Heads of Procurement Forum held from Aug...
Read more