The rate of youth unemployment rate in Kenya is currently standing at around 22%, it is crucial to channel resources towards developing our human capital. The importance of ensuring quality education that will align with market needs cannot be underrated.
With most youth left out to do with informal employment where it is available, we have seen a great boost in employed youths in the Kenyan construction sector which is currently highly vibrant, and promises to stay that way.
With this, AVIC International, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives last week announced the launch of Africa Tech Challenge Season 4.
Dubbed Jenga Vijana, the challenge, which is the fourth Africa Tech Challenge by AVIC
International, is a Civil Construction Skills based challenge whose end game will see the winning participants get employment opportunities by AVIC International at the site of what is currently Nairobi’s largest investment, the Global Trade Centre.
AVIC International Holding Corporation (AVIC INTERNATIONAL) is a global diversified holding business group, under the control of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).
The company has been present in the country for over 20 years running several ongoing projects in real estate, the company is currently involved in the construction of city complex Global Trade Center at the heart of Westlands Business District which is currently the largest investment in Nairobi County, also took part in the construction of Two Rivers Mall and the UAP Towers.
The Global Trade Centre, will integrate a super five-star hotel, a high rise office building ad upscale business apartment with incredible shopping experiences.
The main focus of the Africa Tech Challenge Season 4 is on the civil construction centre, the participants of Africa Tech Challenge
will compete in 3 disciplines, Carpentry, Steelworks and brick layering.
In Kenya, AVIC International in conjunction with the Ministry of Education have established a Vocational Education Training Project since the year 2010. This TVET program entails commissioning, installing and equipping public Technical Training Institutions with mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. The company’s CSR project, Africa Tech Challenge emerged as a result of TVET and it has had 3 successful seasons since its inception in June 2014.
The 4th season’s main objective is to empower the youth through employment, job creation in the Kenyan construction sector will highly contribute towards decreasing the high unemployment rate in the country. This season will therefore lay emphasis in skill development so as to empower the youth with employable skills.
The program also seeks to equip the youth with technical skills and it is in the form of a training program and competition whereby the most outstanding participants receive fully sponsored masters degree scholarship to prestigious universities in China and cash prizes are also given to the winners.
All ATC Participants also receive certificates to show participation and outline the skills developed during the training which allows them to access internship/attachments and job opportunities more easily.
