| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out to examine the factors influencing youth participation in
development projects in Njiru sub county, with reference to Maili Saba Slum, Nairobi Kenya.
The study therefore sought to establish the relationship of education, awareness, accessibility
to opportunities and government policies on youth participation in development projects. A
descriptive survey design was used to accomplish the study objectives. The target population
for the study was 290 respondents drawn from 15 youth development projects within Maili
Saba slums. The study sample was composed of 58 respondents drawn from 3 youth
development projects. Simple random sampling was used to select the projects to participate
in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data
from the study respondents. Data was analysed in both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. Under the qualitative approach, common themes emanating from the study
responses were analysed. Under the quantitative approach data in numeric form was
summarized and described in descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages.
Further, inferential statistics were carried out to examine degree and extent of relationship
between youth participation and education, awareness, accessibility to opportunities and
government policies. The study findings were interpreted based on the study objectives.
Conclusion and recommendation were thereafter drawn. The study findings indicated high
level of literacy among the youth, modes of awareness for government projects included
media, friends, peers, posters, banners, road shows and advocacy campaigns. 40% of the
youth indicated that modes of awareness used was not effective at all. Youth participation in
groups in terms of membership, decision making and involvement in youth development
projects was found to positively correlate with youth participation in development projects at
a correlation coefficient of 0.369.A correlation coefficient of 0.520 was established between
accessibility to opportunities for youth and participation in development projects.
Government policy and youth participation in development projects was found to correlate at
a positive correlation coefficient of 0.267.The study findings indicate a positive correlation
between youth education level, methods of awareness, accessibility to opportunities and
government policies as far as participation in youth development activities are concerned.
The study recommended a need for project managers and education system to foster a
positive attitude towards youth participation in development projects through education and
training, youth friendly awareness strategies on projects should be used such as peers, media
and sports, development opportunities for youth should be well articulated to enhance their
accessibility among the youth, and the government should enforce implementation of policies
and sustainability of projects targeting the youth. The study recommended a similar study to
be done on other parts of the country to establish whether there other determinants of youth
participation in development projects such as political influence. | en_US |
