LakeHub and Chancen International sign MoU to extend financial support to Zone01 Kisumu Apprentices

For many young people, the opportunity to learn can be shaped by the resources available to them. These resources are often limited and in many cases, inaccessible. In Kenya, the barriers to learning tech are high. To start learning tech, one would need access to the internet, then access to impactful tech courses. They would then need a computer. All of which cost money.

This financial burden placed on young people hoping to learn and access opportunities is the reason why Zone01 Kisumu exists. It is also the reason why Chancen International, a financial inclusion non-profit closing the $40 billion annual education financing gap in Africa, has agreed to collaborate with us to make education financing accessible to learners who need financial support, alongside the guidance and career support that can help them progress.

Our shared ambition has seen us enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Chancen International to help young people overcome financial barriers to education and build pathways towards meaningful careers. Chancen International has financed 11,000 youths across Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa & Ghana with a 70% employment rate within 12 months of graduation.

Speaking at the MoU signing, LakeHub Foundation’s Co-Executive Director, Caleb Nyoiro, said, “One of our main goals at Zone01 Kisumu is to sustain the support we provide to learners through stipends and tech resources. We believe that access to education should not be limited by a young person’s financial circumstances. With this partnership, we'll help more learners access the support they need to develop their skills and pursue their ambition.”

Under the proposed collaboration, Chancen Kenya will provide learners with access to facilities to support their monthly stipends as well as access to laptops. LakeHub will provide learner monitoring and graduate career follow-up. We will also work together on workshops including financial literacy training, soft skills enhancement and transition into work.

Wangechi Ngetha, Business Development Specialist at Chancen said: “Looking at LakeHub Foundation, they are doing something different with Zone01 Kisumu. They are providing real world experience in the workplace as well as partnering with employers to help place learners. We are happy to support this model.”

Today's MoU agreement signing is the start of a collaboration focused on extending financial support, tech-education, and job opportunities for youths joining Zone01 Kisumu.