Young Widows Urged to Embrace TVET Skills as CBO Seeks Support to Secure Their Future

By Bruno Aero Family Media Staff Writer Coutesy photo by Elijah Odangah

Group Coodinater and Advocacy Manger of DCW Ms Antonina Makoba  a representative of Daystar Women Community-Based Organization (CBO) under the CSO in  Uasin Gishu County, Antonio Makoba,emphasize and called for increased support for young widows to enroll in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions as a pathway to economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking during the Elimu Yetu Coalition forum held in Nairobi, Makoba said many young widows in Uasin Gishu County are vulnerable and face significant economic hardships, limiting their ability to educate and provide for their children.

She noted that enrolling such women in TVET institutions to acquire practical skills such as hairdressing, fashion design, plumbing, and other vocational trades would enable them to earn a stable income and improve the welfare of their families.

“When young widows are equipped with skills, they are able to educate their children and live with dignity,” Makoba said.

Makoba appealed to the Elimu Yetu Coalition and other partners to provide financial support and funding to facilitate training opportunities for the women, warning that lack of support could push some into desperate and harmful survival choices.

If these women are not supported, they may be forced to the streets and into unsafe activities just to survive,” she said.

She emphasized that empowering young widows through skills development not only benefits individual families but also contributes to community development and social stability.

Daystar Women CBO reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders, development partners, and government agencies to expand access to vocational training and called for urgent collaboration to support vulnerable women across Uasin Gishu County.

The Elimu Yetu Coalition forum brought together civil society organizations, education stakeholders, and community leaders to discuss inclusive education, skills development, and social protection for marginalized groups.