Damaris Ndua
Damaris works on SHOFCO’s Sustainable Livelihoods team, connecting youth to job placements and building partnerships that expand access to dignified work.
When I meet young people finishing our training programs, they are always asking, over and over - “Will I actually get a job?”
That question is fair. For many youth across Kenya, especially those in informal settlements, “training” has often meant a certificate without a future. That’s why my favorite part of this work is being able to say yes, and mean it. Ni wakati wa kufanya kazi. (it’s time to work).
I love that SHOFCO doesn’t stop at training. We walk with our youth until they’re earning, contributing, and standing on their own feet. Through new partnerships with employers across the country, we’re connecting thousands of young people to real, dignified work.
These are some of my favorite partnerships out of the many that we build.
Sewing Machines to Salaried Work
SHOFCO partnered with Sainath Education Institute, a leader in Kenya’s apparel manufacturing sector. Together, we created a dual training model—two weeks in the classroom and two on the factory floor—so that our tailoring graduates could move straight into industry-ready machine operation roles.
To date, 1,482 youth have completed training, and 794 have already been hired into factories and EPZs (in Kenya and many other countries, Export Processing Zones are special industrial areas where companies are given tax breaks and other incentives to produce goods mainly for export markets). The goal is to attract investment, create jobs, and grow the manufacturing sector.Most are young women who doubted they could ever hold a formal job. Now, they are part of Kenya’s growing apparel workforce. Earning, saving, and inspiring others.
Opening Doors in the Insurance Industry
We also teamed up with APA Life Assurance, one of Kenya’s largest insurers, to prepare youth for careers in the financial sector. Beyond technical training, SHOFCO covers the cost of formal licensing through the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA)—a major barrier for most first-time job seekers.
So far, 30 youth in Nairobi and 34 in Mombasa have joined APA’s sales force, and six have advanced to full professional licensing. Next year we will expand into Kisumu and Eldoret.
Retail Jobs That Build Futures
Our newest partnership with Carrefour (Majid Al Futtaim) is connecting youth to stable retail employment. In Kilifi, 76 out of 85 SHOFCO candidates interviewed were shortlisted for roles like cashiers, bakers, and IT officers—with excellent salaries and health coverage. More interviews are underway in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu.
Placing in Dignified Work
Every time I see a young person step into their first day of work, I’m reminded why we do this. Training is important—but it doesn’t matter if there is no job. When a young person earns their first paycheck, it’s not just about income. It’s about dignity, pride, and proof that their community is full of talent ready to work.
Across Kenya, SHOFCO is proving that the solution to youth unemployment is already here—at the grassroots. Our grassroots-to-industry bridge model connects training, job placement, mentorship, and financial inclusion through the SHOFCO SACCO, our savings and credit cooperative with special loan products and financing for members of informal settlements. This integrated approach both prepares youth for jobs and keeps them in them.
It's About Opportunity
Every placement tells a bigger story: that with the right support, Kenya’s youth don’t need saving. They just need a chance. This is about opportunity.
