Ten Years of Turning Skills into Opportunities

For ten consecutive years, Ruben Centre has proudly participated in the Nairobi International Trade Fair at Jamhuri Park Show Ground, creating a platform where the talent, creativity and resilience of the Mukuru community can be seen and celebrated by thousands of visitors.

What began in 2016 has grown into an important annual tradition—one that has created opportunities for student exposure, networking, learning, income generation and community engagement. The journey began in 2016, when the HDSTP (Human Development and Skills Training Programme) initiated Ruben Centre's participation in the Nairobi International Trade Fair.

That first opportunity came following a visit to Ruben Centre by Dr. Muriithi, then Chief Officer for Agriculture in Nairobi County, together with a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture based at Nyayo House. The visit opened a door for Ruben Centre to showcase the skills and products being developed within the community.

Ruben Centre was subsequently given exhibition space in a house near the entrance of the Show Ground, providing an opportunity to introduce its work and products to a much wider audience. The exhibition also provided an opportunity to demonstrate how skills can translate into value. Weaving was incorporated into the exhibition as a way of adding value to cotton threads, turning raw materials into attractive, useful and marketable products through the creativity and skills of our trainees.

What started as a single opportunity has now become a decade-long commitment. Year after year, Ruben Centre's Technical and Vocational Training Institute has brought students' handmade products to the Trade Fair.

From weaving and tailoring to other skilled crafts, the exhibition provides students with more than just a place to display their work. It gives them an opportunity to interact with customers, learn from other exhibitors, understand markets, build confidence and see the potential of turning their skills into sustainable livelihoods.

Behind every product on display is a young person who has chosen not to allow circumstances to define their future. Instead, they are learning to build that future with their own hands. Over the past decade, the Trade Fair has therefore become an important part of Ruben Centre's approach to skills development, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

The annual exhibition has generated opportunities far beyond the sale of products. It has created a valuable space for networking, student exposure, learning and income generation. Students get to experience a professional exhibition environment, engage directly with members of the public and potential customers, and gain a better understanding of how their skills can translate into economic opportunity.

For Ruben Centre, the Trade Fair has also provided an avenue to build relationships with organisations, businesses, government representatives, potential partners and members of the public who want to learn more about the Centre's work. Over the years, many of these connections have continued beyond the exhibition itself.

Alongside the vocational products, Ruben Centre's urban farming initiative has become another highlight of the exhibition. The initiative demonstrates that agriculture is possible even in a densely populated urban settlement such as Mukuru. Simple, practical approaches—including growing food in sacks and making productive use of small urban spaces—can provide families with food, additional income and a greater sense of self-reliance.

At the Trade Fair, visitors have the opportunity to learn about practical and replicable urban farming techniques that they can take back to their homes, schools or communities.The message is simple: limited space does not have to mean limited opportunity.

In 2026, Ruben Centre celebrates ten years of participation in the Nairobi International Trade Fair.The milestone is a reflection not only of the Centre's commitment to the exhibition, but also of the growth and confidence of the students and programmes represented there.

This year, 35 students had the opportunity to participate in the exhibition. The students were distributed across the seven days of the exhibition, giving each group an opportunity to gain first-hand experience, interact with visitors and learn from the wider exhibition environment.

The 2026 exhibition also generated KES 170,545 (approximately US$1,322.05) in income through the sale of products. However, the value of the exhibition cannot be measured by income alone. One of the most significant outcomes this year was the creation of a strong network of potential supporters, customers and partners.

Ruben Centre collected at least 300 contacts from people interested in visiting the Centre, experiencing its programmes and exploring opportunities for future engagement.

These contacts have been carefully recorded and will provide a valuable foundation for continued networking, partnership development and relationship-building. The results reflect the Trade Fair's dual value: generating income for student-made products while opening doors to future opportunities, partnerships and sustainable livelihoods.

It is a classroom without walls.

It is a marketplace where students can test their skills.

It is a networking platform that opens doors.

And it is a public space where the wider Nairobi community can encounter the talent and potential that already exists within Mukuru. For the young people involved, the experience can be transformative. Standing behind a product they have made themselves, speaking to customers and seeing people appreciate their work helps build something that cannot always be taught in a classroom: confidence in their own ability and potential.

As Ruben Centre marks this ten-year milestone, the journey that began in 2016 continues to evolve. The Centre will continue using opportunities such as the Nairobi International Trade Fair to connect skills with markets, students with opportunities, and Mukuru with the wider community. The goal is not simply to showcase what Ruben Centre does, but to demonstrate what is possible when young people are given the skills, opportunity, exposure and support to shape their own futures.

Ten years on, one belief remains at the heart of the journey: The talent and resourcefulness already exist here in Mukuru. Platforms like the Nairobi International Trade Fair simply help the rest of the world see it.As we celebrate a decade of growth, learning and opportunity, we look forward to many more years of showcasing the creativity, resilience and potential of our students and community.

Story by: Benson Kagwima