Celebrating young people creating sustainable livelihoods
This International Youth Day, we’re celebrating the young people transforming challenges into opportunities and helping build more sustainable futures in their communities.
Across the communities where we work, young people face complex and interconnected barriers, from poverty and climate change to limited economic opportunities and unequal access to technology. Yet despite these challenges, they continue to show remarkable resilience, leadership, and innovation.
One of those young people is Washington.
In Kiumba, Homa Bay County, 26-year-old Washington had long recognised an opportunity in the local fishing industry. Working as a motorcycle transporter, he saw the potential to become a fish aggregator, buying fish directly from fisherfolk and supplying it to markets. But there was one major obstacle: without reliable cold storage and access to ice, the risk of spoilage made the business too risky to pursue.
That changed with the introduction of our Homa Bay Energy for Livelihoods Project, developed in partnership with E-Safiri and Homa Bay County. By providing access to a cold room and ice production facilities, the project has helped remove a critical barrier for local fish traders.
With secure storage now available, Washington has been able to transition to full-time fish aggregation. He can preserve the fish he buys, reduce losses, and supply fresher products to market in larger quantities.
“I had this business opportunity in mind, but after evaluating the environment, I realised there was a significant challenge: fish spoilage. It affected everyone in the sector and could easily have led to my downfall too. I gained the confidence to start my business after Renewable World introduced a cold room and ice machine to reduce post-harvest losses for fisherfolk, especially aggregators,” said Washington.
Today, Washington’s business is generating a higher income and helping improve his family’s wellbeing. Looking ahead, he hopes his success will encourage other young people to recognise and act on opportunities within their local economies.
His story is a powerful reminder that young people are not simply beneficiaries of development. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders driving positive change in their communities every day.
With thanks to Empower New Energy for their continued and vital support of this project.
Find out more about Homa Bay Solar livelihoods project on our projects page, or why not explore the different ways you can get involved in supporting our work.