20 youth from Kibera on Friday, July 6, 2007 graduated after undergoing a one month intensive business course at Strathmore University. The 20 come from various youth groups in Kibera slums. The course was organised by the University's Community Outreach Department and facilitated by Strathmore University lecturers.

The course which ran from 2nd to 29th June was intensive says Caroline Lodupo, one of the graduates. The course comprised character formation, business management, marketing, business plan writing, and end user information technology skills.

"We also received motivational talks from people who started small and have made it big in business," says Caroline who graduated from Kangaru Girls High School with a B- last year.

"One of the key things I learnt at the course is how to use my time well," Caroline adds. Another student Felix Oduor says he has learnt a lot about business operations. "I have tried my hand before in business and I am now in my third business. After the course, I am more confident of success," he says.

Oduor supports his single mother and four other siblings in Kibera. Prof Terry Ryan who was the Chairman of the Jua Kali Task Force (a committee set up by the Kenya government to study the informal sector) and is now the Chairman of Strathmore University Council is naturally very enthusiastic about the university's involvement in community projects. "It is important that the projects work and change the lives of people," he says.

The course was made possible by a donation of Kshs200,000 from pupils of a class in Retamar School in Spain. During the graduation Mary Ann Gitau of Sunlink Microenterprise Development Services Limted, David Waithaka, the Executive Director of Kenya Youth Business Trust and Lilian Mbevi of K-Rep Bank addressed the graduands.

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