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Over 21,000 young people have joined the Blaze Entrepreneurship Symposium event series in Kenya so far, with four further events planned around the country.

Blaze is a KES700 million (US$6.9 million) initiative launched by mobile operator Safaricom, aimed at supporting young people to become entrepreneurs, and “be [their]own boss”.

The operator says the initiative responds to research findings that Kenya’s youth are worried about rising unemployment, and are increasingly looking to entrepreneurship as a career path.

Under the Blaze initiative, Safaricom is hosting Blaze Entrepreneurship Symposiums around Kenya; with young people invited to attend the events which feature keynote speeches, debates, and networking opportunities.

Over 6,000 people under 26 years of age attended the first event, held in Eldoret; the second event in Thika saw over 9,000 young people show up; while the third event held last weekend in Nakuru also attracted over 6,000 attendees.

The full day events feature plenary sessions led by mentors from different areas of interest; such as agri-business, entrepreneurship, music, media, technology, finance, fashion and career building; as well as talks given by young people to their fellow youth on career decisions, and using their passions to make a living.

Attendees are also given the opportunity to network with each other, as well as with experts and mentors.

Further events are planned for Kisumu, Meru, Mombasa and Nairobi.

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