New Youth Opportunities Partnership: Swahilipot Hub
Vipingo Ridge and Swahilipot Hub Foundation Formalize Partnership to Expand Youth Opportunities
On Wednesday, 15th July 2026, Vipingo Ridge and Swahilipot Hub Foundation officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an exciting new chapter in a partnership that has been growing steadily over the years. While the signing formalizes our collaboration, it is built on a shared history of creating opportunities for young people through skills development, innovation, environmental stewardship and meaningful employment pathways.
At Vipingo Ridge, we believe that sustainable development extends beyond conserving landscapes and protecting biodiversity, it also means investing in people. Through this partnership, we are strengthening our commitment to equipping young people in Kilifi County with the skills, exposure and opportunities they need to thrive.
A Partnership Built on Shared Purpose
Our collaboration with Swahilipot Hub Foundation has evolved through a series of impactful initiatives focused on youth empowerment, environmental conservation and community development.
Over the years, Swahilipot Hub has been an active partner in several of our programmes, contributing their expertise in youth engagement, creativity and innovation. Together, we have demonstrated that meaningful partnerships can bridge the gap between education, creativity and employment, while creating lasting value for local communities.
Swahilipot has been making an impact in nearby Mombasa for a decade, and in 2025 started to expand their Hub network, with Kilifi County one of the first counties for their move to impact a wider youth population.
Strengthening Opportunities Through Collaboration
Our partnership has also grown through continued dialogue and shared vision. Prior to signing the MoU, Swahilipot Hub Foundation paid a courtesy visit to Vipingo Ridge to explore strategic collaboration under the Mastercard Foundation's Vijana2Thrive (V2T) Programme. The discussions centred on expanding opportunities for young people across Kilifi through mentorship, structured case management, community mobilization and practical workplace experience.
Through this engagement, Vipingo Ridge committed to supporting mentorship sessions by providing suitable spaces, offering internship and on-the-job training opportunities, and creating employment pathways whenever opportunities arise within our business. Together, we recognized that many young people require not only technical skills but also guidance, exposure and supportive networks to successfully transition into meaningful careers.
Bringing Learning to Life
A recent example of this partnership in action was the successful seven-day experiential learning programme hosted at Vipingo Ridge for more than 70 students from Marianist and Afritech through Swahilipot Hub Foundation.
During a major event hosted at the Ridge, our departments, facilities and team members became a living classroom, providing hands-on exposure to hospitality, events management, operations and customer service.
For these young participants, the experience extended learning beyond the classroom and into a real working environment, allowing them to explore careers they could genuinely envision pursuing. It is a practical demonstration of how partnerships between industry and youth organisations can bridge the gap between education and employment.
Creating Employment Through the Creative Economy
The ripple effect of this collaboration extends even further.
One of our valued creative partners, LETA Franchise, which connects talented young photographers, dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers and performers to professional opportunities, is itself a success story nurtured through Swahilipot Hub Foundation's mentorship ecosystem, having been founded by a young entrepreneur mentored through the foundation.
LETA Franchise has created 650 jobs in the gig economy since their inception and spoke passionately on World Youth Skills Day about being a result of the proactive work of Swahilipot Foundation and Vipingo Ridge.
During the same seven-day event, LETA Franchise successfully engaged and created paid opportunities for 35 young dancers and acrobats who performed throughout the event. This is exactly the kind of multiplier effect that meaningful youth partnerships can achieve; where mentorship leads to entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship creates employment, and employment transforms communities.
Formalizing A Shared Vision
The Memorandum of Understanding was officially signed by the Chief Mentor of Swahilipot Hub Foundation, Mr. Mahmoud Noor and the Chief Executive Officer of Vipingo Ridge, Mr. Alex Horsey during a World Youth Skills Day ceremony held on Wednesday, 15th July 2026 at Vipingo Ridge. The signing was witnessed by team members from both organisations, development partners and the young people whose lives this partnership seeks to impact.
The occasion symbolized more than the signing of a document. It reflected a shared commitment to empowering youth through mentorship, work readiness, experiential learning, innovation and employment opportunities. By formalizing the partnership, both organisations reaffirmed their dedication to creating sustainable pathways that enable young people to transition confidently from learning into meaningful careers.
Swahilipot at 10: Celebrating a Decade of Youth Empowerment
Just a week after formalizing our partnership, another milestone reinforced the strength of our collaboration. On 23rd July 2026, Vipingo Ridge joined Swahilipot Hub Foundation and other partners at the Breakfast Launch of Pwani Innovation Week. The occasion also marked Swahilipot Hub Foundation's celebration of a remarkable decade of impact.
For ten years, Swahilipot Hub Foundation has empowered thousands of young people through creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills, building an ecosystem where young talent can grow into sustainable careers and thriving businesses. Their decade-long journey aligns closely with Vipingo Ridge's own commitment of creating opportunities that benefit both people and place.
Looking Ahead
The formalization of our partnership represents far more than the signing of an agreement. It reflects a shared commitment to investing in young people, strengthening local communities and building pathways into dignified employment through mentorship, skills development, innovation and practical workplace experience.
As we look ahead, we are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will unlock. Together with Swahilipot Hub Foundation and our wider network of partners, we remain committed to empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators and professionals; creating lasting impact for the youth of Kilifi and contributing to a future where every young person has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.
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