On February, 15th, 2025, the dream of a model of joining the creative industry came to pass as Mr Kasarani aka Emmanuel Naphtaly graduated in Graphic & Design at the Free Weekend Academy.
The model is a beneficiary of the Free Weekend Academy program being run by the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) where students pursue different Technical Vocational Education and Training courses at no cost.
With the skills gained Naphtaly will be able to actualize the operations of an organization he formed called Naphtaly Africa Kenya (NAFRIKA) in pursuing African creativity in fusing fashion and culture.
“My vision for Nafrika is to become the leading global brand for African inspired luxury fashion, celebrated for its artisanship, authenticity and cultural significance,” he said during the graduation ceremony while speaking to the media at the Graphic & Design booth.
The 2022 2023 Mr Kasarani outlined Nafrikas mission to preserve, promote and commoditize African heritage through the creation of an exquisite custom made royalty wear that embodies elegance power and sophistication.
“The course was able to impart skills and instill the guiding core values of team work, customer focus, stakeholder engagement, innovation and creativity, equity and inclusiveness,” he said.
The graduate said that as he targets glory with Nafrika he will use his new found skills to seek for money making ventures through employment or self-employment opportunities to be able to raise capital to fund the organisation’s activities.
“I take this opportunity to thank the International Youth Fellowship for offering not only me but other young people this chance of sponsoring us pursue further educational in vocational training at the academy. Were it not for this organization many of us facing financial constraints to enroll in colleges, ” Naphtaly said while paying tribute to the organization.
Naphtaly recalls that he walking along the Mwiki-Kasarani road thinking of how he will pursue his Nafrika dream when he bumped to an individual dishing out flyers about programs being offered at the Free Weekend Academy.
“I read the flyer and was amazed and excited by the opportunities being offered at the academy free of charge. I saw this Graphic Design course that I had been eyeing in the list, I realized that my prayers had been answered since I did not have finances to go for it but now a golden chance had come knocking where I was train free of charge. “
“I did not hesitate to register and got enrolled trained and I have now graduated with my dreams journey now on course to be fulfilled,” he quipped.
Naphtaly was among those who graduated in the 7th cohort presided over by Youth Social Development department Director Ms Emily Maina in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports at the IYF headquarters along, Thika Road in Nairobi.
Over 5000 youths graduated through the program which offers 29 courses including Computer Programing, Beauty & Hairdressing, Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Paramedics, Automotive Repair, Camera Operations, Graphic & Design, French, Theology, Carpentry, Music, Artificial Intelligence, Sign Language, Chinese and English.
Others on offer are Computer Packages, Camera Operations, Taekwondo, Catering, Korean, Dance, Art, Fashion & Design, Networking, Driving, Video Editing, UX Design, Mindset Education, News Production, Digital Marketing and Football.
Since its inception in 2007 IYF Free Academy, has channeled out over 60,000 graduands who have gone out to be important members of the society.
The academy operates on weekends across 3months whereby students pick one course at a time after which they graduate with certificates and the best receive a scholarship to further their education with Mahanaim College as a partner.
The next IYF Free Weekend intake commences on February 22nd, 2025 at the IYF headquarters along Thika Road.
The IYF Free Weekend Academy is a youth empowerment hub, a centre for skills development and enhancing the chance of employability, promote self-employment and entrepreneurship.
The three months certificate course is designed to give the necessary and basic soft skills needed by the youth to become economically dependent on themselves.
The International Youth Fellowship is a non-profit making organization with an objective of Challenge, Change and Cohesion. IYF was established to strengthen the hearts of the youth , giving them confidence and hope to go beyond their limitations and overcome their challenges in life.