When Young People Are Given a Stage, Possibilities Begin
By Ms. Teresia Muia
What happens when young people are given more than training? They begin to create possibilities.
Last week, the LCMCs CTPAE (Communications Think Positive Alternatives Exist) project, under the Leave No Youth Behind program, took this idea from theory to reality in Mombasa and Eldoret. Young people stepped beyond the classroom and onto platforms where their skills, ideas and talents could meet the real world.
At Reef Hotel in Mombasa, 45 participants, including 18 care leavers, pitched their business ideas. They performed, shared their stories, received feedback and engaged directly with potential employers, partners and stakeholders.
Their message was clear: being a care leaver does not have to define the limits of one’s future.
In Eldoret, the same spirit took another form. At Boma Inn Hotel, participants presented business and social enterprise ideas to government representatives, potential partners and business stakeholders. This time, however, the conversations did not end with applause.
Some participants were offered internships, while others received opportunities to work. One young entrepreneur who runs a mascot company was invited to showcase the business at an external function.
The events revealed that young people’s abilities extend far beyond business plans. Music, dance, spoken word and stage performances created space for participants to express their creativity, confidence and identity.
The experience showed that skills become transformative when young people are given the opportunity to use them.