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August 12, 2011 – Nairobi- Eight Kenyan youth have recorded roaring business at the 14th Rwanda International Trade Fair which ended last Thursday in Kigali. The youth had been sponsored to the 14 day event by the Youth Enterprise Development Fund through its market support programme which links youth to local and export markets.
The youth recorded rapid uptake of their products, many orders and numerous business enquiries which they are hopeful will translate into sales now that they are back home. Many people visited the stand wanting to be distributors of the products in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
One of the enterprises, Ecopencil, manufactures pencils from old newsprint and is based in Ngong. They were the winning exhibitors at the National Youth Trade Fair that was organized by the Fund in June. The other youth exhibitors deal in artwork, African handicrafts, beadwork, and mushrooms and weaving.
Some of the youth were selected during the national youth trade fair while one of them is an incubate at the newly launched Chandaria Incubation and Innovation Centre at Kenyatta University. The Youth Fund is a partner in the centre.
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A young Rwandese girl admires Mercy Obukwa's art work during the fair
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Davies Saiyianka shows the eco friendly pencil to Mr. Rene a Rwandese businessman
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A team comprising the CEO and members of the board accompanied the youth. The team met officials from the private sector, Kenyan embassy to discuss mechanisms of supporting those youth who will export into Rwanda as a result of the outing.
This is the fourth time the Fund is sponsoring youth to exhibit outside Kenya. The Fund has in the past taken youth to Burundi, Egypt and Tanzania. These exhibitions have turned the fortunes of the youth, and changed their mindsets.
In line with the new constitution the Fund will from this month start County youth trade fairs, starting with Kakamega in the fourth week of August. These county fairs will give the youth an opportunity to show case what they are best in. They will also provide an opportunity to select exhibitors for national fairs and international fairs.
Besides market support the Fund also provides financing and entrepreneurship training to the youth. It also facilitates the youth to obtain jobs abroad through the labour export programme.
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