Empowering youth with practical skills has become a vital component in the efforts to address the high rate of unemployment and poverty in many African communities. In Mombasa County, the Kenya Red Cross Society’s Innovation Unit, under the FSPI project and in partnership with the French Embassy, organized an Artistic Wednesday Session at the I.O.Me 001 Innovation hub, with a focus on beadwork. The workshop aimed to provide the youth with practical skills in beadwork, a craft that has a rich cultural heritage in many African communities, and can provide economic opportunities while helping to preserve traditional cultural practices. 

 The workshop brought together a group of enthusiastic youths who were eager to learn and improve their skills. The facilitators for the session were two experienced beadwork artists within Mombasa County who have worked on past projects and are currently monetizing their skills.  

The workshop began with an introduction by the facilitators, who explained the significance of beadwork in their community. The participants were then shown a range of beadwork tools and materials, including threads and beads of various colours and sizes. The facilitators enlightened the participants on how to identify the right beads for a particular design, how to thread the beads, and how to create patterns and shapes using different stitching techniques. 

 As the workshop progressed, the participants grew more confident in their abilities and began to experiment with different beadwork designs. They also encouraged the participants to explore their unique styles and to find inspiration in their cultural heritage. 

 At the end of the session, the participants displayed their finished beadwork pieces, especially bracelets. They also shared their experiences and the challenges they had overcome in the process. The workshop also provided them with practical skills in beadwork, as well as an appreciation for the cultural and artistic significance of the craft.  

The participants will go through a second session and get linked to hotels and resorts in Mombasa County, where they will be allocated platforms to showcase their products for sale. This will be a good opportunity for them to boost their self-employability.  

With more workshops like this, the youth can become more self-reliant, contribute to the growth of their communities, and improve their overall well-being.