Over the past year, Earthcare Services Limited has had the privilege of working alongside young entrepreneurs across Kenya through the NYOTA Project. More than just a programme, the project has been an opportunity to walk with ambitious young people as they build businesses, overcome challenges, and create brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

As an implementation and facilitation partner, our role has gone beyond delivering activities. We have spent the last year engaging directly with youth, listening to their aspirations, providing practical support, and helping turn business ideas into viable enterprises.

Supporting Youth at Every Step of Their Entrepreneurial Journey

Many young people have the drive and creativity to start businesses but often lack access to training, mentorship, and the resources needed to grow. Through the NYOTA Project, we worked to bridge that gap.

From community mobilization and beneficiary registration to training sessions and one-on-one mentorship, our team was actively involved in ensuring that young entrepreneurs received the support they needed to succeed. We engaged with youth from diverse backgrounds, helping them identify opportunities, strengthen their business ideas, and develop the skills necessary to navigate the realities of entrepreneurship.

Building Skills for Sustainable Businesses

A major part of our work focused on training. Throughout the project, we facilitated learning sessions designed to equip participants with practical business skills that could be applied immediately.

Topics covered included:

• Entrepreneurship and business management.
• Business planning and strategy.
• Financial literacy and record keeping.
• Marketing and customer engagement.
• Savings and investment practices.
• Business sustainability and growth.

These sessions were designed to be interactive and practical, allowing participants to learn from real-life experiences while gaining tools they could use to strengthen their enterprises.

Mentorship That Made a Difference

Training is important, but long-term success often requires ongoing guidance. That is why mentorship became a key component of our work under the NYOTA Project.

Over the course of the year, we supported young entrepreneurs through coaching and mentorship sessions that addressed the challenges they faced in running and growing their businesses. Whether it was refining a business model, improving financial management, identifying new markets, or building confidence as a business owner, mentorship provided a valuable platform for learning and growth.

For many participants, these conversations helped transform ideas into action and challenges into opportunities.

Strengthening Communities Through Enterprise

Beyond individual businesses, the project contributed to stronger communities. By supporting youth-led enterprises, we helped create opportunities for income generation, local economic growth, and increased financial resilience.

Our work also involved engaging local stakeholders, community leaders, and project partners to ensure that implementation remained inclusive, effective, and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries. These collaborations were essential in creating an environment where young entrepreneurs could thrive.

Promoting Financial Inclusion

Recognizing that access to financial knowledge is essential for business growth, Earthcare facilitated financial literacy initiatives that encouraged responsible financial management among youth entrepreneurs.

Participants were equipped with skills in:

• Budgeting and financial planning.
• Savings culture and asset building.
• Business record management.
• Understanding financial products and services.
• Managing business finances effectively.

These interventions strengthened the financial resilience of participating businesses and improved their capacity for growth.

Monitoring Progress and Impact

To ensure accountability and effectiveness, Earthcare supported the monitoring and evaluation of project activities. Through regular data collection, beneficiary engagement, and performance tracking, we helped measure outcomes and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

This process enabled the project to remain responsive to beneficiary needs while ensuring that resources translated into measurable results.

Looking Back on a Year of Impact

As we reflect on the past year, we are proud of the relationships built, the businesses supported, and the journeys we have witnessed. Every training session, mentorship conversation, community engagement activity, and success story has reinforced the importance of investing in young people and their entrepreneurial potential.

The NYOTA Project has demonstrated that when young people are provided with the right knowledge, guidance, and opportunities, they can build enterprises that not only transform their own lives but also contribute to broader economic and social development.

At Earthcare Services, we remain committed to empowering communities through innovative and impactful programmes. Our experience implementing the NYOTA Project has reaffirmed our belief that sustainable development begins with investing in people—and that empowering youth entrepreneurs is one of the most effective ways to create lasting change.