Press Release

Samsung Real Dreams program has come of age with the mobile phone service clinic that was set-up in Kawangware last week on Friday.  Nine technicians from partner NGO Informal Sector Business Institute (ISBI) who are in their final stages of the SRD electronics program demonstrated their skills in electronic repair services.  Those in need of services were over 150 however due to the rain and time constraints, 60 phones were repaired. This demonstrates strong demand for services in mobile phone repairs.  Samsung Real Dreams program is aimed at increasing economic activity, particularly by promoting job skills and preparing young people for successful, long-term careers.

The Samsung Real Dreams program is being implemented in partnership with three local non-governmental organizations: the Informal Sector Business Institute (ISBI), the African Centre for Women and Information and Communications Technology (ACWICTS), and NairoBits. Each NGO is implementing youth employment and development programs focused on delivering training in life skills, information and communication technologies, and entrepreneurship as well as providing work experience through internships and job placement services. This program will  benefit about 1000 young men and women annually from the poorest areas of Nairobi by enabling them to access job skills and obtain decent employment to initiate their micro-businesses.

About Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of four main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, and Telecommunication Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsungmobile.com

About ISBI.

The Informal Sector Business Institute (ISBI) is a Grassroots Business Organization (GBO) sponsored by Strathmore Educational Trust, a not-for-profit Public Trust incorporated in Kenya. ISBI was established in 2003 to enhance the business skills of business people in the informal sector (Jua Kali).

In early 2002, the trustees of Strathmore Educational Trust appointed a committee to study the possibility of starting an activity to benefit directly the least privileged people of Kenyan Society. ISBI sought and got the support of Samsung Electronics to enhance technical training for the youth which will go a long way in enhancing their employment prospects. This led to the creation of a more market friendly youth program, the Samsung Real Dreams. The ISBI programme has benefited many young people from the low income estates of Eastlands, Kangemi and Kawangware in Nairobi.

The programme addresses the need to increase the employment opportunities for disadvantaged Kenyan youth through classroom training, internships and job placements for young people. The students go for an attachment for 160 hours. After the attachment the ISBI placement office helps place the students in employment (40%) while others start their own businesses (60%). The ultimate objective of the project is to equip beneficiaries with the means to earn a living and contribute positively to their communities and society. For more information, please visit www.eitkenya.org

About International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments, and civil society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive, and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices, and improve their communities. To learn more visit www.iyfnet.org

Notes.

Five of the technicians are current students of the Samsung Real dreams program who are doing their internship in various enterprises in town. The students have already finished the 3 months class training in ICT and Electronics. Two of the technicians who completed program and internships and currently operating their own businesses. One of the technicians works for an organisation (4ntech ltd) that takes our students for internship and the Other is a trainer of the course at ISBI.