EFAC Recognized at The DIAR Awards for the second year running!
EFAC recognized for championing “Youth Employment Strategies” at the DIAR Awards 2025
Education For All Children (EFAC) was recognized for the second year running at the National Diversity and Inclusion Awards & Recognition (DIAR Awards) 2025! This happened at a colourful gala night, held at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi on 7th March 2025. The Gala brought together organizations and individuals driving impactful change in advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) across Kenya. We are proud and excited to be part of this remarkable celebration of inclusivity.
This year, EFAC proudly walked away with two major recognitions:
✨ 1st Runners-Up in the DIAR Award for Youth Employment Strategies
✨ Winner of the DIAR Award for Eminent Leaders — awarded to EFAC Director – Strategic Partnerships, Mary Kiguru.
Photo: From Left to Right: EFAC Director of Strategic Partnerships Mary Kiguru, Board Member Irene Obonyo, and Program Officer in Charge of Post Secondary Miriam Katumi
Championing Youth Employability
The Youth Employment Strategies Award celebrates organizations working to solve the challenge of youth unemployment in Kenya. At EFAC, we believe that education is just the beginning. Through our education-to-employment program, Wezesha, we take our scholars on a journey that goes beyond the classroom and right into the workplace.
In Kenya today, youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing socio-economic challenges. This becomes even more worrying when you consider the ever-increasing number of university graduates entering the job market every year, all competing for limited opportunities. While academic institutions continue to produce bright, qualified graduates, the transition from classroom to workplace has proven difficult for many.
A critical but often overlooked reason for this struggle is the lack of job readiness and practical workplace skills among graduates. The Skills Needs Survey Report 2023 by the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) indicates that about 64% of graduates entering the workforce lack the necessary job readiness, despite performing very well in their post-secondary education. This glaring disconnect between academic excellence and employability reflects a deeper problem within the education-to-employment pipeline.
EFAC, in appreciating that there is more to be done to complement education, has developed a model that is at the core of changing the narrative – ensuring that the part of the community we serve is better equipped than ever. We equip bright but disadvantaged youth with leadership skills, career development, mentorship, and job-readiness training. We connect them with industry mentors, internships, job shadowing, and placement opportunities, giving them a real chance to thrive in today's job market. Our goal is to empower young people to break the cycle of poverty, not just for themselves but for their families and communities.
It was also a proud moment to see our Director, of Strategic Partnerships, Mary Kiguru, honored as a Winner of the DIAR Award for Eminent Leaders. True to the award's ethos, Mary is a transformational leader whose work has impacted thousands of young lives across Kenya. Her passion for leadership development, especially among youth, is at the core of EFAC’s mission.
Mary's leadership continues to leave a lasting mark, from walking with our scholars as they shape their future to championing systemic change that gives everyone equal opportunities.
Photo: Mary Kiguru receives her award - DIAR Award for Eminent Leader
In the words of our CEO:
“This DIAR Award for Youth Employment Strategies powerfully affirms the work we do at EFAC to empower youth through education, mentorship, and job readiness. It reminds us that transforming lives requires a community committed to seeing young people thrive. We are honored by this recognition and inspired to keep walking the journey with our scholars toward a brighter, more inclusive future.
EFAC is also proud to celebrate Mary for being recognized as an Eminent Leader. This award is indeed a testament to her dedication to empowering our scholars through mentoring, pursuant of initiatives that develop an ecosystem focused on promoting employability for the Kenyan youth. Congratulations to Mary on this well-deserved recognition.”
To all our partners, mentors, supporters, board members, staff members, and scholars, this win is for you, too! Congratulations!