Ongoing Mobile Phone Repair Training Designed by Accept international implemented by The Grassroots walkers

JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and AI (Accept International) launched a project from December 2022 aiming at helping unemployed youth in Nairobi's Eastleigh, Majengo, and Mathare areas to generate income through entrepreneurship by training on smartphone repair skills. The project included training youth in repair skills, connecting them with business networks, and training trainers (Tots) to facilitate the program.
 

Building on this initiative, JICA began a study titled “Youths in Nairobi Slums: Socio-economic Isolation, Discrimination, and the Impact of Inter-group Income Generation Activities.” The study explores ways to reduce tensions between marginalized ethnic, religious, and social groups in Nairobi by fostering cooperation through intergroup interactions during the creation of market opportunities. It also investigates the reality of discrimination among youth and the potential risks of criminalization and radicalization linked to these issues.

Focusing on communities at risk of criminal activity in areas like Eastleigh, Majengo, and Mathare, Huruma, Kiamaiko where tensions exist between Christians and Muslims, the study suggests that while market forces can encourage peaceful interactions, targeted interventions are also needed to break down barriers. The study introduces vocational training as a tool to create new market opportunities and promote intergroup contact.

This particular research project aims to evaluate the short-term impacts of these interventions on economic, social, and psychological measures related to intergroup relations, as well as the likelihood of youth engaging in risky activities.

 

 

Since February 10, 2025 to May 30, 2025, Accept International has successfully collaborated with The Grassroots Walkers to conduct a series of training sessions aimed at empowering local youth with valuable skills. The training cohorts have been structured as follows: from February 10 to February 21, 2025, the first cohort comprised 39 participants; from February 24 to March 7, 2025, the second cohort where 42 participants were trained; the third cohort spanned from April 7 to April 18 with another group of 40 participants; the fourth cohort took place from May 5 to May 16 with yet another set of 39 participants; and finally, the fifth cohort occurred from May 19 to May 30 with an additional group of 41 participants. In total, this initiative has successfully trained 201 participants across these cohorts, equipping them not only with technical skills in smartphone repair but also essential entrepreneurial skills that are critical for their economic independence. Of these trained individuals, a diverse representation emerged: 68 participants hailed from Mathare, 27 from Huruma-Kiamaiko, 21 from Eastleigh, and a significant majority of 85 from Majengo. The training sessions randomly divided the Training participants into two treatment groups (T1 =20 and T2 =20): 

 

This multifaceted approach not only equipped the participants with vital technical expertise in mobile phone repair, a skill increasingly relevant in today’s technology-driven society, but also fostered essential business acumen necessary for establishing and managing their own enterprises. The training was meticulously designed to address both theoretical knowledge and practical application, ensuring that participants could apply what they learned in real-world scenarios. 

 

 

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