This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
On World Youth Skills Day, we reflect on the plight of millions of unemployed youth in Africa and the crucial role that skills development plays in enhancing their ability to make informed choices about life and work.
According to a 2018 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics survey, seven million Kenyans were unemployed, with 1.4 million desperately seeking work. This is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the continent.
The Kenyan government has taken steps to address this issue by implementing measures to rehabilitate and reintegrate young offenders. The Probation and Aftercare Service (PACS) is at the forefront of this effort, providing vocational skills training to empower young people and prevent crime.
With a vision of empowering young offenders, PACS plays a vital role in achieving the 'Big Four Agenda.' The organization enables the provision of affordable housing by equipping young offenders with skills such as masonry, plumbing, carpentry, and electrical wiring.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) supports the government in imparting valuable skills to these young people. Through the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD), a European Union-funded partnership, UNODC is assisting PACS to strengthen its delivery of justice services.
Young Kenyans who have served their time in custody and undergone rehabilitation deserve a second chance at life. By removing the stigma associated with youth released from detention, we can unlock their potential and harness their energy to drive economic growth and development.
As Dr. Amado de Andrés, Regional Representative of the UNODC, notes, 'Fundamentally, there is a need to remove the stigma towards youth released from detention. They can be a powerful asset in the economy and future of the country.'
