VR Welding-Toolkit Foundation

Toolkit Foundation

VR Welding-Toolkit Foundation

Empowering young women, youth, and refugees in Kenya through VR-based welding training and certification aligned with international EU standards.

The Toolkit Skills & Innovation Hub, No. 7219 Karen-Kikuyu (Southern Bypass), Kikuyu, Kenya

KEN

Nonprofit

Kenya faces a critical youth unemployment crisis, with over 75% of its 56 million population under the age of 35. Each year, more than 800,000 youth enter a highly competitive job market, contributing to an alarming 39% youth unemployment rate. This is further compounded by a national poverty rate of 37.3%, which exceeds 60% in marginalized regions like Turkana. Women and refugees are particularly disadvantaged, with female participation in technical and construction sectors remaining exceptionally low due to cultural barriers, limited access to training, and lack of certification opportunities. At the same time, Kenya’s construction and automotive industries are booming, creating a rising demand for certified skilled labor, especially in trades like welding. However, over 200,000 artisans across the country remain uncertified, limiting their employability and career growth. The lack of accessible, modern, and accredited training for youth, women, and refugees contributes directly to this skills gap. Our solution addresses this challenge by providing VR-based welding training and internationally recognized certification aligned with EU standards. By equipping underserved groups with industry relevant, future ready skills, we aim to close the skills gap, promote gender and social inclusion, and boost employment in Kenya’s growing technical sectors.

In 2021, Toolkit Foundation introduced an innovative Virtual Reality (VR)-based welding training program to equip young women, youth, and refugees in Kenya with internationally recognized welding skills, particularly in Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding. The use of advanced VR technology disrupts traditional training methods by providing a safe, cost-effective, and immersive learning experience. VR welding simulates real-world scenarios, enabling learners to practice techniques without the risks of accidents common in physical training environments. It offers individualized learning, allowing trainees to practice frequently, thus enhancing their skills and motivation. Once trainees complete the VR modules, they transition to real-world practice, gaining hands-on experience and being assessed for certification by national regulatory bodies. Toolkit also employs the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) model, where existing informal welders can upskill within just two months using VR, enabling them to meet international standards. These welders then receive certification and are linked to local and international job markets. The VR welding program is not only a tool for skill development but also a pathway to employment, helping to bridge the skills gap in Kenya’s fast-growing construction and industrial sectors while promoting social inclusion and economic empowerment for marginalized groups.

Our target population includes young women, youth, and refugees in Kenya, particularly those from marginalized communities. These groups are often underserved in terms of access to quality education and vocational training, especially in technical fields like welding, which are dominated by men. Youth in Kenya face high unemployment, with over 800,000 new job seekers annually and a 39% unemployment rate. Women, particularly in technical sectors, face additional barriers to entering industries like construction, while refugees struggle with access to training due to legal and socio-economic challenges. Traditional training programs are often expensive, inaccessible, and unsafe for beginners, and many informal welders lack formal certification, limiting their employment opportunities and earning potential. These barriers contribute to the persistent skills gap in Kenya’s growing construction and industrial sectors. Our solution directly addresses these challenges by offering VR-based welding training that provides a safe, affordable, and accessible learning environment. The program allows learners to gain hands-on experience in a risk-free, interactive setting and earn internationally recognized certifications. By equipping underserved groups with high-quality, certified skills, our solution creates pathways to formal employment and entrepreneurship in industries like construction, helping to empower marginalized individuals and improve their livelihoods.