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Swisscontact Kenya International Women’s Day Celebration: Actions & Reflections

Kenya
08.03.2025
At Swisscontact, we are committed to breaking barriers, fostering inclusion, and ensuring skills development leads to real economic opportunities for all. This International Women’s Day, we reflected on how we are taking action to accelerate gender equality, not just through conversations, but through tangible, systemic changes in vocational training and the workplace.

Accelerating Action

Through our PropelA Dual Apprenticeship Program, we continue to challenge biases and empower women in technical trades. In a sector traditionally Male-dominated sector, we are seeing real progress:

- 2022: Women were 25% of plumbing apprentices, none in electrical trades.

- 2023: Female participation reached 13% in both fields.

- 2024:22% female enrolment, (electrical and plumbing trades)

This progress proves change is possible, but we must keep pushing—ensuring equal opportunities, strong support systems, and equipping young women with the skills to thrive.

Empowering the Next Generation

In honor of International Women's Day, apprentices gathered at Don Bosco Boys Town, our vocational school partner, for an Apprentice Empowerment Session meant to equip the with soft skills to help them thrive in their personal and professional lives.

Cynthia Wakio, Swisscontact Kenya's Communications Coordinator, led a session on how small, consistent actions shape personal and career success. Building on her own journey and the apprentices' everyday experiences, she emphasized discipline, respect, and accountability as keys to growth, urging them to seize opportunities as steppingstones for continuous progress. 

The event went to male and female breakout sessions to address key areas led by Our private sector partner CEOs, who host apprentices three weeks a month, led discussions on inclusivity and professional growth:

Led by Madam Jane Apondi, CEO of Power Eagles, the female breakout session focused on Empowering Women at Work: Navigating Boundaries and Workplace Challenges. As a woman who has risen through the ranks in the electrical field, she shared the challenges she has faced—both in rising to CEO and at her current level. She emphasized the importance of resilience, setting boundaries, countering workplace harassment, and staying focused and confident in one’s skills as key to success.

Mr. Gilbert Menjo, Technical Director at Nuair Technologies, led the male breakout session on Respect & Responsibility: Building a Safe and Inclusive Workplace Culture. He emphasized the importance of responsibility, respect for women in the workplace, professionalism, and personal accountability. He also encouraged the apprentices to make the most of the opportunities available through the program.

From left: Electrical apprentices, Wibright Mariko, Kelvin Chomba and Levy Munialo
From left, Plumbing apprentices, Mercy, Omujong, and Abigael pose for a picture honoring international Women's Day
Apprentices Michael Okoth and Karen Njue pose with the IWD correx board, standing in support of the cause.
PropelA apprentices, Swisscontact team and the private sector CEOs pose for a photo after the IWD event

Personal Reflections on Accelerating Action

Beyond the sessions, the Swisscontact Kenya team took a moment to reflect on how our work accelerates action toward lasting impact—and what accelerating action truly means to each of us.

Christine Njiru, our Project Assistant, stands beside her belief that accelerating action means supporting women's dreams.
Fridah Gatwiri, Head of Finance and Admin, stands beside the IWD reflection board encouraging women to face the challenges they face 
Augustine Amolo, a Project Officer at Swisscontact, encourages all of us to act now!
The Swisscontact Kenya team poses beside the IWD reflection board 

Our commitment to accelerating action goes beyond words—it’s about equipping individuals with skills, opening doors to opportunities, and driving meaningful change for a more inclusive and empowered future.