YES Leader: Mr. Emmanuel Dennis Ngongo
Email : emmanuel@yesweb.org
Website : www.yeskenya.org

Vision : Fostering employment and increasing awareness of the climate change and environment among members of the local communities, local media and decision makers

Background : Young people in Kenya are usually most adversely affected by any negative shifts in the volatile environment and economies. Lack of job and educational opportunities, land degradation and diseases affect young people, limit their options for personal development. However the youth groups demonstrate extraordinary resilience and take every opportunity to develop new skills and address community problems

About the Network : The membership recruitment base for YES Kenya has reached 8,400 members. Hundreds of these members have undergone the “Reach up” training program in partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT). YES Kenya had provided leadership in organizing the 3rd National Youth Convention in Nairobi in 2007 and in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, managed to successfully host the third global Youth Employment Summit 2006 in Nairobi - Creating Markets…..Unleashing Entrepreneurship. The Summit brought together more than 2000 delegates from over 100 countries. This, being the first summit in Sub Saharan Africa, was a major milestone in the history of YES.

Current Major Initiatives:

• Implementation of DOT Kenya in collaboration with World Corps Kenya (WCK)
• Partnered with Kenya Kountry Business Incubator (KEKOBI-E) for printing 10,000 copies of “Do it Yourself Business Manual” on “How to Start a Business.” This booklet targets youth planning to start businesses in the communities.
• Exploring planting of Aloe Vera as a profitable venture for the youth but the challenge will lie in moving products to markets
• Considering Eucalyptus tree farming and enlisting coffee growers to be trained in growing mushrooms using coffee wastes.
• Proposals have been developed and consultations are still on for partnering for a pilot project in Kenya, with Tall berg, Ericsson and MYC4.
• Increase youth participation and involvement in local communities through participation in advocacy campaigns focusing on climate change and sustainable development. The Project will also develop skills of young people for overcoming current problems affecting young people’s lives (particularly unemployment, lack of educational opportunities, declining health and environmental degradation).

Key Accomplishments :

• Major partnerships formed with - Kenya Country Business Incubator, SODNET, World Corps Kenya and Youth Agenda.
• 1051 Kenyan community participants have benefited from the Reach Up! Program. A total of 35 DOT Kenya Interns have been trained to deliver the program to local communities
• YES Kenya joined other civil society agencies in hosting the National Youth Convention that brought together 1300 youth from all the 8 provinces to build the capacity of the youth networks across the country and link them with development partners
• YES Kenya also managed to have its leader appointed to the International Youth Advisory Board of the Open Society Institute