Thousands of Coastal Youths to Benefit in Blue Economy Entrepreneurship Initiative
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
At least 15,000 young people from the coastal counties are targeted in the Bluebiz entrepreenuship program that seeks to empower them in harnessing the multi-million blue economy sector value chains.
According to BlueBiz senior program manager Wangari Theuri says the program currently being undertaken by TechnoServe,a non governmental organization in collaboration with Mastercard foundation has reached hundreds of young people from the region since inception.
Speaking in Mombasa on the sidelines of the second edition of Mombasa youth dialogue at Bandari maritime Academy,Theuri said Young people are trained in entrepreneurship skills, facilitated to access finance, and linked to markets.
“The program works with aspiring and current youth entrepreneurs to sensitize them on existing opportunities in the Blue Economy and support them in setting up new businesses or diversifying and increasing their income streams to strengthen their resilience,”she added.
Blue Economy involves several sectors, industries and services such as fisheries, tourism and recreation, coastal protection, marine biotechnology, carbon sequestration, transport and trade, energy, minerals, waste disposal and biodiversity.
“The program seeks to harness the potential of the Blue Economy to create economic opportunities for young people while contributing to protecting ocean resources,”said Theuri.
According to Theuri,said out of the 935 young people they have supported since 2023 at least 30 percent will get funding in their new funding programe of between sh 50,000 to 600,000 as seed capital to their projects.
“Statistics show that 4 percent of young people live below the poverty line. That means out of 10 young people,4 of them are poor and they are disadvantaged,,with that being said we have come to offer solutions to that through entrepreneurship programs,”she said.
In the past one year,she says,they have empowered young women in Kilifi Kwale,Mombasa,Lamu and Tanariver which are hardly hit by joblessness.
The program works with aspiring and current youth entrepreneurs to sensitize them on existing opportunities in the Blue Economy and support them in setting up new businesses or diversifying and increasing their income streams to strengthen their resilience.
TechnoServe is a nonprofit organization operating in almost 30 countries around the world.
It works with hardworking women and men in low-income communities to ensure they gain the skills, confidence, and connections to build competitive farms, businesses, and industries.
Linking people to information, capital, and markets has helped millions create lasting prosperity for their families and communities.
