Douglas Mwiti 
- Sanara Unveils Kisumu Initiative, Targeting to Empower Youths with Opportunities in the Creative Industry;
SANARA, an ambitious and inclusive program aimed at empowering young creatives, has officially launched its Kisumu initiative, targeting to empower youths in the creative and cultural industries in the county.
Sanara, inspired by the Swahili words Sanaa (arts) and Biashara (business), is a key driver for advancing Kenya’s cultural and creative economy. The Kisumu launch marks a significant milestone in Sanara’s goal of reaching 110,000 young people, including 77,000 young women, 11,000 refugees, and 5,500 people with disabilities across five regions in the county including, Kakamega, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi, and Turkana.
This initiative, launched in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, brings together a consortium of leading organizations including HEVA, SNDBX, Baraza Media Lab, and GoDown Arts Center.
The three-year program which will run from 2024-2027, is designed to provide young women and men across Kenya with dignified, sustainable employment opportunities in the arts, fashion, media, and entertainment sectors.
Sanara’s Kisumu initiative will empower creatives in various fields, including fashion, garments, accessories, film, television, content creation, gaming, live music, theatre, and the performing arts, by offering extensive support in the following key areas:
• Skilling for Work: High-quality training, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities tailored to global industry standards.
• Business Development Services:Customized support aligned with the needs of creative enterprises.
• Access to Finance: Inclusive financing solutions through grants, loans, and production financing to help young entrepreneurs thrive.
• Advancing Fair & Safe Working Ecosystems: Research, resource mapping, capacity building, and fostering safer, more inclusive work environments.
HEVA, a key implementing partner in the program, launched the Ota Growth initiative as part of the Sanara program to provide targeted financial support and resources for creative businesses in Kenya. Ota Growth aims to empower youth-led and women-led enterprises within the cultural and creative sectors, facilitating access to loans ranging from KES 5,000,000 to KES 20,000,000 at a competitive interest rate.
This initiative will enable these businesses to thrive by investing in essential areas such as fashion, film, content creation, and the performing arts, ultimately contributing to the sustainability and growth of Kenya’s vibrant creative economy.
Sanara’s Kisumu launch promises to unlock opportunities for young creatives, offering them the tools they need to succeed and create sustainable futures in the dynamic and evolving creative economy.
