By Steve El Sabai
The International Youth Fellowship (IYF) has marked a major milestone in youth empowerment with the graduation of 10000 young people during the Season 8 ceremony of its Free Weekend Academy in Nairobi.
The colorful event, held at the IYF Kenya Headquarters, was presided over by the Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Sports Jacob Fikirini, who represented the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
In a speech read on behalf of the CS, PS Fikirini praised IYF for its unwavering dedication to nurturing young talent through skills training, mindset transformation, and mentorship.
“This initiative is a powerful example of what structured community empowerment looks like. It aligns perfectly with the government’s Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda by equipping youth with practical tools for self-reliance and employment,” the CS noted.
The IYF Free Weekend Academy has become a transformative platform offering free, holistic training across more than 30 faculties. Graduates this season were equipped in disciplines such as plumbing, carpentry and design, electrical installation, welding, driving, and automotive repair.
Others pursued training in beauty and hairdressing, catering, fashion and design, camera operations, video editing, graphic design, music, dance, and art. The academy also offered courses in computer programming, digital marketing, computer packages, UX and UI design, artificial intelligence, networking, and news production.
In addition to technical and creative fields, students were trained in languages including English, French, Chinese, Korean, and sign language. Health and sports-related faculties such as paramedics, football, taekwondo, theology, and character education were also part of the curriculum.
On Saturday, 5000 youth graduated, with another 5000 set to follow on Sunday, making it the largest cohort in the program’s history.
PS Fikirini emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting such impactful partnerships, calling on more organizations to collaborate in unlocking the potential of Kenya’s youth.
IYF Kenya Country Director Pastor Park Nam Kyu expressed gratitude for the government’s support, pledging to expand the academy to more counties to reach even more youth.
Graduates celebrated their transformation through cultural performances, testimonies, and demonstrations of skills learned. As Season 8 concludes, the IYF Free Weekend Academy stands tall as a beacon of hope, skills, and vision for Kenya’s rising generation.