Lyra’s Imarika Kijana program aims at providing an innovative training to rural youths and practical knowledge on innovative entrepreneurship and business skills to improve their lives.
As part of the Imarika Kijana training, youths visit different businesses to get practical knowledge on exploring available opportunities in their communities.
On 22nd June, 76 youths from 10 villages (Mwiluti (Imalutwa), Kiwalamo, Irole, Mbigili, Nyang’oro, Ifunda, Mfyome, Uhominyi, Ibofwe and Ikengeza) visited different entrepreneurs and business centres in Iringa region. The visits were split into four learning areas:
Animal husbandry: VETA Mgongo (pigs, cows and poultry) and Kuku Point (chicken)
Farming: Rijk Zwaan and GBRI
Environmental conservation: Envibright Company
Small industries: Neema Crafts
Imarika Kijana participants and stakeholders shared testimonies on the impacts of the exposure visits and Imarika Kijana:
Zaituni Kimomeko, 23 years old (Female) from Uhominyi village
“Imarika Kijana has made me think of different business opportunities in my village. I am planning to start poultry keeping and open a restaurant. The exposure trips made me start thinking big. For example, I thought having 50 chickens is a big deal, but now I realized that I can aim to have 500 chickens for business. This was proven at Kuku Point where they keep chicken for business. I saw one chicken housing carry 1,500 chickens, not to mention the other chicken housings. I was excited to visit Kuku Point because my dream is to do poultry keeping for business.”
Benard Herry, 25 years old (Male) from Irole village
“The exposure trips showed me that one can own more than one business. It also opened my eyes to the fact that in our village there are a lot of things we do or see as normal, like traditional farming. Now I will start exploring opportunities to its fullest. I enjoyed visiting Neema Crafts where people with disabilities are making different crafts. While visiting Envibrights, I also realized that one can make money while conserving the environment. Envibright collects waste/garbage and decayed fruits, and uses the seeds to plant fruits and sell seedlings.”
Kuruthum Mbaga, Irole Ward Community Development Officer (WCDO)
“The Imarika Kijana program encourages youths to be economically independent. The approach of Imarika Kijana is really good, and I compare it with someone who wants to travel and needs a bus lift - he/she will get a lift when he is beside the road and not staying at home expecting to get a lift. The program teaches skills to rural youths which enables them to think about starting income generating activities.
Thanks to Lyra for this program in our ward and supporting government efforts toward empowering youths.”
The activities under the Imarika Kijana program are delivered as part of the 2-year project ‘Empowering rural youth and marginalized groups to create sustainable livelihoods’, which is funded with UK aid from the UK government.
Through the project, about 2,000 rural based youth will benefit, approximately 60% female and 3% youth with disability.