Recent graduates of the UN-HABITAT Environmental Entrepreneurship Programme are showing the potential of young people for leadership for urban development.

Meeting on the sidelines of UN-HABITAT’s 21st Governing Council, they launched a pilot programme this week under the auspices of the UN-HABITAT Global Partnership Initiative for Urban Youth Development in Africa. Now the results are in and the programme will be expanded within Kenya, to three other east African countries.

There are a number of examples of successful young entrepreneurs from the program. Martha, who signed up and establish a mobile stationary service; Sarah, found an internship with a cyber café and computer college, with the intention of setting up her own cyber café when she finishes

“It has been an amazing learning experience for both the young people themselves, UN-HABITAT and the programme managers,” said Mr. Koernig, the lessons learned will greatly improve the subsequent rounds of the programme.”

The Environmental Entrepreneurship Programme is in its final phase for the first round of 25 low-income Nairobi youth.