In the last two years, the Ajira Digital Program has operationalized at least 101 Ajira Youth Empowerment Centres across the country.  These centres serve as incubators for innovation, training, upskilling, and digital work centres where young people have access to the internet, computers, and community support from fellow digital workers. One such centre is the Kirinyaga Central Ajira Youth Empowerment Centre supported by the Constituency NG-CDF. This centre has a training capacity of 200 young people and can accommodate up to 100 digital workers.  The centre also serves as a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) outpost that hosts young people engaged in transcription and data entry supporting KEPSA’s work on e-government specifically the ongoing pilot program of digitization of the Judicial system in Kenya.

Ms. Esther Wangari, a legal transcription agent at the BPO centre in Kirinyaga explained how this Centre has empowered her digital skills and work experience. At the Centre, Esther has benefited from her interaction with other young people who have challenged her to improve on her quality of work and explore more digital work through global platforms such as Gotranscript and Upwork. As a young woman, she is also able to pursue her entrepreneurial skills and hobbies where she makes some pastries for her peers at the Centre.

Such measure of impact by the Program is among the many reasons that led the Ajira Digital Program team at Kenya Private Sector Alliance led by Dr. Ehud Gachugu, the Director of the Program and Youth Employment at KEPSA to host the strategic partner, Mastercard Foundation team, yesterday at the Kirinyaga Central BPO Centre. The Foundation sought to understand the progress of the Program, its impact, and transformation for these peri-urban and rural set-ups in Kenya while also discussing areas of improvement and considerations.

Present from the Mastercard Foundation was Mr. Peter Materu, Chief Program Officer; Mr. David Bagenda, Country Director, Kenya; Mr. Anthony Karanja, Program Partner - Digital Economy; Ms. Rose Karanja, Head – People and Culture, Business Partner, Kenya; and Ms. Ruth Oloo, Program Lead - Gender. Other County leaders and Ajira Digital partners present included Mr. Kariuki, Fund Manager at the NG-CDF Kirinyaga Central; Mr. Ken Mwenda, Managing Director eMobilis and Ms. Mercy Mugure the CEO Adept Technologies.

The teams engaged young people who were undergoing digital work training at the Centre as well as interacted with those already offering digital skills such as transcription, content writing, web development, and virtual assistance among other digital services. Some of the agents highlighted how they are undertaking advanced skills such as AI and machine learning.

Mr. Peter congratulated the trainees and digital work participants together with all the partners on their great contribution to the growth of the Program explaining that he was involved in the conceptualization of the Ajira Digital Program and is happy to witness the growth and impact of the Program to the young people and the community. He explained that the Foundation was there to see the progress of the Program and how to make it better.

Mr. David encouraged the young people working within the Centre to take advantage and learn more of the required skills as they have very few limitations to what they can achieve. He added that their testimonies attract other people and urged them to invite other young people, especially young women, to take advantage of the Program as it impacts on their livelihoods and the community at large.