14th July 2023, Nairobi. – It has been said before that the slums may not be the birthplace of success stories, but it can be a springboard from which a success story is launched. This came to pass as the doors of Mng’aro Empowerment Centre were officially opened to the public on 14th July 2023. The pompous launch that was graced by religious leaders, local administration and the community, saw a huge gathering drawn from Lucky Summer and neighbouring environs turn up. The road to Mng’aro Empowerment Centre is a culmination of a series of events in the community that will now be centralized at the centre. “Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but only you.” an elated Samuel Omoll who is the founder of Mng’aro Mtaani CBO said at the launch. “Thirteen years ago, I dreamt of coming up with an empowerment centre but God ni Nani ame kamilisha .
Anyone who is dreaming of anything kindly do not stop dreaming because maybe yours is the best, just keep practicing” he added.

Guests had the opportunity to tour the facility which will be offering garment making classes, hair dressing classes, Nail art technology and many more short courses at affordable prices. The centre has so far registered 30 youths who have taken up various courses. The youngsters expressed their relief at joining the centre saying they would never have afforded to join colleges offering the same coursed due to high fees. The location of the centre within the community was also lauded, as the students will not have to pay bus fare to get to the learning and empowerment centre. Previously, many had dropped out of learning institutions due to the cost of transport to and from. Pastor Moses Brown Olunya, flanked by other religious leaders as well as local administration, led by Assistant County Commissioner of Kariobangi North, James Yagan was the guest of honours who opened the centre. The empowerment centre is located at Mng’aro Court in Lucky Summer, Ruaraka. “This is one great initiative that has been started by one of us here, let us all now come together and support it because it benefits all of us,” said the ACC while at the same time appealing to well wishers and donors to aid the centre and keep things running.

The centre goes hand in hand with the UN’s mandate to reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities through the provision of safe and accessible urban public spaces, especially for children and youth. Public spaces for youth often can act as a space for education and training, which prepares youth for the job market. There are more people under the age of 25 today than ever, totalling nearly three billion or almost half of the total global population; 1.2 billion of that total are between the age of 15 and 25. These youth live, by and large, in cities and towns; the cities of the developing world account for over 90% of the world’s urban growth and youth account for a large percentage of those inhabitants. Youth should be part of building the economies of cities, this is why Mng’aro Mtaani is working to improve employability and entrepreneurship among young people.