Written by Riziki Youth Africa Bamboo Training : Equipping Youth for Green Livelihoods and Community Impact
From January 21st to February 15th, 2025, three members of Riziki Youth Africa participated in a transformative bamboo training hosted by Bamboo4Africa at the scenic Anabas Resort in Meru County, Kenya.
Youth from Kericho, Bomet, and Nandi counties were selected to take part in this hands-on experience to gain vital skills in bamboo propagation, sustainable clump management, eco-building, and bamboo-based crafts.
Training Highlights
Under the expert mentorship of Jaye (Australia) and Natalie Davenport (Indonesia), the training covered:
– Bamboo Propagation through observation and learning at a local seedling nursery.
– Clump Management including sustainable harvesting techniques to maintain healthy, productive bamboo groves.
– Basic Building Skills with practical construction of hyperboloid and stardome structures.
– Craftsmanship Projects where youths created bamboo tables, hammocks, and fencing-demonstrating bamboo’s creative and commercial potential.
At the end of the program, participants received certificates, marking their achievement and potential to contribute to the green economy.
Expanding the Impact: From Skills to Social and Environmental Change
Social Inclusion
Riziki Youth Africa envisions expanding the impact of bamboo training by integrating:
– Women and mothers into bamboo crafts and seedling businesses, creating income opportunities in rural homes.
– Youth and orphans from children’s homes, empowering them with practical, transferable skills.
– Vulnerable community members to become part of a larger social enterprise focused on sustainability and dignity.
Environmental Conservation
Bamboo plays a critical role in addressing local environmental issues. Our goal is to support:
– Reforestation efforts in degraded areas and river catchment zones.
– Soil erosion control through bamboo planting on slopes and contours-particularly in tea and coffee plantations in Kericho and Bomet.
– Agroforestry solutions where bamboo acts as a natural pesticide and herbicide filter in farmlands.
– Establishment of bamboo belts that enhance biodiversity and climate resilience.
Challenges & Vision
While the passion and potential are there, our youths face challenges:
– Lack of capital, equipment, and workshops to scale their skills into businesses.
– Need for attachments or internships in established bamboo facilities.
– Limited access to advanced training such as diploma programs (e.g., Londiani Kenya Forest College).
We believe that with the right support, these youth can power eco-tourism, green architecture, and sustainable industries using Kenya’s abundantly available bamboo resources.
Join Us in Building a Bamboo-Based Future
Riziki Youth AFRICA is seeking:
– Partnerships with government, NGOs, private sector, and faith-based organizations
– Access to training centers, funding, and equipment
– Collaboration in developing green job pathways for Kenya’s youth
Together, we can fight unemployment, restore ecosystems, and build dignity for all-one bamboo culm at a time.