Sakaja urges City residents to explore One-Stop Youth Centre for empowerment

The One-Stop Youth Centre is opened to serve the ever-growing youth population, Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has said.

The facility offers a safe space, positive mentorship, and ample room to accommodate the large groups of young people who flock to participate in its varied learning programs.

Sakaja said the now-equipped facility provides young people with the opportunity to acquire skills without any financial burden.

“All youths are welcome here. The Centre offers a music studio, meeting halls, and learning spaces. Through these resources, we empower our youth,” Sakaja said Monday.

He added that the Centre, strategically located along Haile Selassie Avenue within the City Council Inspectorate offices, offers a lifeline for Nairobi’s youth and helps them break the cycle of poverty through empowerment and self-employment initiatives.

The Centre’s Coordinator Wainaina Muiruri said the centre is a haven for the youth of Nairobi to cultivate key skills.

“The One-Stop Youth Centre in Nairobi is a fantastic facility for young people to come together, learn new skills, and interact," said Wainaina.

"By attending workshops and training sessions, youth develop professional and technical skills, which can help them secure job opportunities, create employment, and ultimately improve their quality of life.”

Wanaina said the skills to be acquired from the centre range from adolescent health and emotional well-being to sports for development, tutoring, social and financial education, and youth leadership.

"Young people are encouraged to organize and engage in activities that focus on crucial issues such as gender equality, health, education, and livelihoods," Waniana said.

"The Centre’s mission is to provide support services and structured programs that give young people access to information and foster peer interaction across all age groups."

The centre is equipped with valuable resources, including computers, a recording studio, educational visual equipment, literature, and both indoor and outdoor spaces.

A beneficiary of the centre Antony Maina has lauded the initiative saying it provides a conducive and youth-friendly environment where young people can interact, relax, learn, and innovate.

The Centre also offers referral services to help them improve their livelihoods through skills training and income generation opportunities.

"We've learned about modern urban farming, the dangers of drugs, gender-based violence, and other critical topics. We are truly grateful to the Nairobi County Government for this One-Stop Youth Centre, which is free of charge, and we hope more such centres will be established across the county to give all young people the chance to learn,” said Antony.