12/06/2026
The four days field monitoring visit under the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture - YISA Kenya by a team from the Mastercard Foundation comes to a conclusion today. The visit focused on assessing the impact of YISA interventions and gaining firsthand insights into the progress, achievements, and challenges experienced by young women and men participating in the program.
Across Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay, Busia, Kakamega and Kisumu, the team met inspiring young entrepreneurs whose stories reflect the transformative power of opportunity, skills development, and strategic partnerships. These included George Biko of Biko’s Farm, Lavender Smart Kiosk, Anyanga Smart Cage Farmers, SCCODA Women Group, Qula Poa Group, Bukani Mama Toto Women Group, Ondisore Self Help Group, Young Sindo Gateway Women Group, Greenwells Enterprises, and Venessa Ominde of Soldier Fly Diverse Limited, among many others.
The team will also visited the AQUARECH Hatchery and Technology Transfer Centre in Kibos, Kisumu, a revitalized aquaculture hub that is producing quality fish seed, creating jobs for young people, and serving as a center for aquaculture training, innovation, and technology transfer.
The stories shared during the visit highlighted how YISA is empowering young people to build sustainable enterprises in aquaculture, fish trade, soybean production, Black Soldier Fly (BSF) production, and other agribusiness ventures. What began as aspirations for many participants has grown into thriving businesses that are generating income, creating employment opportunities, strengthening local value chains, improving food security, and transforming households and communities.
For participants, the visit provided a platform to showcase their achievements, share their entrepreneurial journeys, and demonstrate how access to training, mentorship, market linkages, productive assets, and financing opportunities has enabled them to grow resilient and profitable enterprises.
For consortium partners—including Farm Africa, Echo Network Africa Foundation - ENAF, Lattice, Aquarech Ltd Ramogi institute of advanced Technology (RIAT), Hydro Victoria, and Livingwood Ltd.—the visit reaffirmed the value of collaborative action in unlocking opportunities for young people and building sustainable food systems.
The impact witnessed over the four days is a powerful reminder that when young people are equipped with the right skills, resources, and support systems, they become innovators, employers, and drivers of inclusive economic growth.
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