By Staff Reporter
CFK Africa, an international nonprofit organization working with youth across 26 informal settlements in East Africa, has received a grant from the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation to roll out a new women-focused skills development initiative in Kenya.
The program, dubbed Women at Work, is scheduled to begin in early 2026 and will target young women living in informal settlements, including teenage mothers. It aims to equip participants with practical job skills in technical trades such as plumbing, electrical installation, and automotive mechanics—fields that are traditionally male-dominated but often offer higher earning potential.
According to CFK Africa, limited access, gender stereotypes, and social stigma have historically prevented girls and young women from entering these trades.
The new initiative seeks to address these barriers by pairing participants with Master Craftswomen experienced female professionals who will provide hands-on training and mentorship.
CFK Africa Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Okoro said the program is grounded in experiential learning.
“The best way to learn a job is by doing it,” he noted, adding that working alongside seasoned women professionals is expected to help build a pipeline of skilled female workers in technical fields.
The Women at Work program builds on the organization’s TechCraft initiative, launched last year, which focuses on improving the earning potential of young people in Kibera and other informal settlements through vocational training.
As a pilot, the new program will be implemented in five informal settlements across Kenya, reaching 80 young women. Participants will receive technical and vocational training, direct mentorship from Master Craftswomen, and job placement support to help them transition into stable employment.
Funding for the initiative comes through the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation’s International Initiative, which supports programs designed to advance opportunity, equity, and well-being for women and girls in developing countries.
The foundation focuses on helping women overcome hardship, achieve economic stability, and contribute to the well-being of their families and communities.
Okoro emphasized that the program’s long-term goal is economic empowerment. “When it comes to vocational skills, there is no better teacher than an experienced worker and no better education than a job,” he said. “Through hands-on training, this program seeks to create pathways to lasting economic security for young women.”
More information about CFK Africa and its youth empowerment programs is available at https://cfkafrica.org/youth-leadership-and-education.
