Mago Youth Polytechnic School Promoting Entrepreneurship In Rural Areas
Mago Youth Polytechnic School, a Technical, Vocational, and Education Training Centre, is nestled along the Chavakali to Kapsabet road.
The Center, which began in 2005 as a feeding center for vulnerable children, now serves as a training center for young people.
Mago Youth Polytechnic School exemplifies community service.
Students studying electrical and electronics have carved out a niche for themselves by developing innovations that help to improve people’s livelihoods.
According to Sheilla Vwamulla, the institution’s Marketing Officer, “the installation of a solar farm at the institution has helped to reduce the high electricity bills from over Ksh. 200,000 per month to below Ksh. 20,000 per month,” as part of the knowledge and skills transfer.
According to Vwamulla, the institution, which was founded by Dutch philanthropists, trains individuals who are immediately hired after completing their studies.
“Some of our students get employed during their internship and only come later to sit their final exams,” she says and adds, “skills training is very important, as skills that are imparted at our institution are what the job market needs.”
Catering and hospitality students gain practical experience at the Polytechnic’s Hotel.
Catering and hospitality students receive hands-on training at the Polytechnic’s Hotel School, which has carved out its own niche in the tourism sector by taking advantage of the Western Tourist Circuit’s tourist sites.
The Kakamega Rainforest, which has unique fauna and flora as well as birdlife, the Kaimosi Waterfalls, the Crying Stone of Ilesi, and the spectacular tea plantations in the area are just a few examples.
The Hotel School, which teaches catering and hospitality, collaborates with the Agriculture Department and has its own supply of fish from the pond, eggs and chicken from the poultry farm, and fresh vegetables grown organically in the Polytechnic’s greenhouse.
Solar energy
Grivens Ojango, an Electricals lecturer, sees solar power innovations as changing and improving livelihoods in Mago.
He claims that the introduction of the smokeless, solar-powered Jiko is improving livelihoods.
“Women in small businesses, such as those who make chips on the roadside, have seen a drop in expenses as the smokeless Jikos use less charcoal and are clean,” he says, adding, “the Mama Mboga, who used to leave the market as soon as the sun set, now stays a little longer and the children can use the solar lamp we gave her to do their homework.”
Local bodaboda operators have also benefited from the solar power project, which has seen them save money, “to the point where they no longer pay high electricity bills or have to pay for charging their phones.”
Bamboo value chain initiative
The carpentry classes have developed a Bamboo Value Chain Project in which they plant bamboo and harvest the raw material for furniture making when it matures, thereby relieving pressure on the contemporary wood used in furniture manufacturing.
“Through the bamboo project, we are contributing to climate change mitigation as envisioned in the Paris Agreement since we are discouraging cutting down of trees,” she says and adds, “bamboo is also known to absorb large amounts of greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide.”
Corporate social responsibility
Mago Youth Polytechnic School has established a fully functional Dental Clinic as part of the Future for Young Teeth program, as well as an outreach program in which learners in the surrounding area receive free dental care advice and instruction on how to brush their teeth. After that, they are given toothbrushes and toothpaste.
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“This has seen school enrollment rise in the schools we are working with, as many children come for the free toothbrush and toothpaste, then stay on in school,” says Vwamulla.
Mago Youth Polytechnic School administers Kenya National Examination (KNEC) and National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) examinations in all courses offered at the school.
Mago Youth Polytechnic School Promoting Entrepreneurship In Rural Areas
