This archive report was first published on 8 October 2019.
Kenya Commercial Bank's KCB Foundation is revolutionizing the lives of young Kenyans through its innovative agriculture training program. The program, which has already seen 92 beneficiaries graduate in hydroponics farming, is part of the 2jiajiri initiative.
Hydroponics farming is a method of growing plants in a nutrient solution without soil, making it an attractive option for young people who are looking for a smart and sustainable farming method. The training is not only capital-intensive but also consumes little space and is not reliant on weather patterns.
According to KCB Foundation Managing Director Jane Mwangi, the program has been a success, with past graduates teaming up to start commercial farms. 'We chose to focus on hydroponic farming because it's a smart farming method cognizant of the challenges faced by 21st-century farmers,' she said in a speech read on her behalf by John Waimiri, Senior Manager, Partnerships.
The KCB Foundation will take the 92 beneficiaries through business development training, where they will learn how to run a business and develop business plans that they can use to take loans from the bank.
The bank is targeting to create 1.5 million jobs by 2024 through its 2jiajiri program, with 500,000 indirect jobs expected between now and 2024. The program has secured additional Ksh10 billion funding from MasterCard to scale up the initiative.
MasterCard extended the funding under its MasterCard Foundation's Young Africa Works program, which was launched in Nairobi on June 20. The initiative aims to enable five million young people to access dignified work through expanding technical, vocational, and work readiness skills that are critical to economic growth.
