12,000 Youth Graduate from IYF Academy in Milestone Event

Over 12,000 young Kenyans are graduating from the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Free Weekend Academy on 28 and 29 of June 2025, which displays youth empowerment and skills development,thus marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing youth transformation journey,

Speaking during the graduation ceremony at the IYF headquarters, Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs Fikirini Jacobs lauded the impact of the academy, describing the event as more than a celebration of academic achievement.

“This graduation is a momentous occasion not only to award certificates but to appreciate growth, resilience, and transformation,” he said. “The youth form the backbone of our society, representing the present and the future. This is a great inspiration.”

Representing the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, PS Jacobs addressed the first cohort of 6,000 graduates on June 28,while another 6,000 graduated in a similar ceremony on June 29. He applauded IYF’s commitment to changing the youth narrative through soft skills training, mindset change, and practical vocational courses.

The IYF Free Weekend Academy, run in collaboration with the State Department for Youth Affairs through an active Memorandum of Understanding, offers a wide range of training programs including paramedics, sign language, hairdressing, music, fashion and beauty, carpentry, dance, plumbing, and leadership, among others. The program provides young people with free access to knowledge that can improve their employability and self-reliance.

“IYF’s graduation ceremony marks a significant milestone by the sheer numbers that have experienced a mindset shift and technical skills development. It also represents a broader journey of youth employment and empowerment in our country,” said Jacobs.

He credited the vision of IYF Kenya  Chairman Kim Yohan and   Park Ock Doo  the IYF founder, who envisioned a world where young people “sleep in happiness and wake up with hope.” That vision has since evolved into a thriving global movement transforming the lives of young people through value-based education and character training.

“The International Youth Fellowship has become a benchmark on how government and civil society can collaborate for the greater good,” added Jacobs.

The PS further highlighted the government’s ongoing commitment to youth development, citing the Ministry’s flagship initiative  the National Youth Opportunities Tours Advancement (NYOTA). The program is designed to create awareness and connect young people across the country with government and private sector opportunities in training, entrepreneurship, and employment.

“I encourage you, my dear graduates, to take full advantage of these opportunities. Let this be the first step of many in your journey of growth. Build on your training, refine your skills, and use them not just to succeed individually, but to uplift those around you.”

Jacobs also emphasized the importance of soft skills, noting that they are critical complements to formal qualifications. He urged graduates to practice peaceful coexistence and mutual respect, promoting national unity and social harmony.

“We need to embrace comradeship beyond the boundaries of our counties and communities. Congratulations dear comrades on your well-deserved graduation,” he said, closing with a message of encouragement: “You are wiser than you were go and conquer the world!”

Speaking in the same function, Rev Yohan Kim, chairperson of IYF Kenya ,urged those graduating to not relax but to take on other courses in the coming season 9, slated for August this year,  or enroll for diploma and degree programs in various universities and colleges in the republic.

The IYF Weekend Academy Season 8 Graduation Ceremony is underway at the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) Headquarters in Nairobi.

The graduation event underlines the success of public-private partnerships in tackling youth unemployment and fostering innovation among Kenya’s young population. With over 12,000 youth impacted in one weekend, the IYF Free Weekend Academy is emerging as a model of transformative grassroots training that could be replicated nationally and across the region.

By Sharon Atieno