Young and talented Kenyan students stand to benefit from an entrepreneurship progamme launched today by the leading handset manufacturer, Nokia. Through the “Enterprise without Borders Programme” young Kenyans will have the opportunity to receive international business training and exposure through international partnerships. Nokia has partnered with Junior Achievement Africa and Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe (JAYE-Europe) to bring African and European youth together. The participating countries in the programme include Norway, Italy, Denmark and Georgia (US). In Africa, Kenya and Ghana will be the first countries to initiate the programme. The EWB programme, which targets young people between 15-18 years, will bring together companies supporting the Junior Achievement initiative across borders to teach them international trade, company operations and business communications. 

Partnership agreements will be established among 60 schools in the selected countries:“This unique programme offers Kenyan students a rare opportunity to learn crucial entrepreneurial skills that can be applied to improve the living standards of the people, in line with goals of Vision 2030 to make Kenya middle –level income country,” said Dorothy Ooko, Nokia Communication Manager for East and Southern Africa. 
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Nairobi, Ooko said Nokia would nurture and support young people in Kenya to appreciate the value of international business and trade especially with the coming up of the political and economic federation of East Africa. 
Ooko said Kenyan youths should start looking at themselves as international assets who could utilize their skills for the good of mankind. 
Under the programme, students from different countries will register and post their offer to participate in the programme and supply information for a “marketplace” where products are on display and research on trading can occur. The programme encourages twinning between schools and teachers across the borders. 
Over the next three years, the EWB programme aims to link 14,000 students with companies, business volunteers and teachers in 24 European countries. 
The programme also offers on-line mentoring by volunteers from the business community, and students can also network on line.