NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 29 – African Originals has taken in 21 graduates through its Mavericks Program, a structured six-month internship offering practical experience in Kenya’s beverage industry.
The programme combines formal onboarding, a guided 100-day plan, regular line-manager check-ins, a three-month probation review and a final presentation where interns showcase the projects they’ve driven during the placement.
Successful mavericks are often offered full-time roles rather than repeated internship extensions, African Originals (AO) says.
“The Mavericks Program is AO’s flagship internship and graduate initiative aimed at nurturing future talent. It offers structured, hands-on experience, connecting young professionals with mentors and real-world projects designed to grow their skills, confidence, and career paths,” explained African Originals CEO Alexandra Chapatte.
AO describes the scheme as more than short-term exposure. Mavericks are placed on live productions and early-stage, high-impact projects that give them ownership and visibility — factors AO says speed up learning and improve chances of retention into full-time employment.
The organisation also plans to expand the model, rolling out more placements in 2026 and piloting a graduate-trainee stream (12–24 months) as the company grows.
The timing is significant. With youth unemployment rate in Kenya for 2024 was approximately 11.93%, a slight decrease from the 12.01% recorded in 2023, Kenya’s graduates face a congested job market. Programmes that combine mentorship, tangible deliverables and fast feedback loops can help bridge the gap between academic learning and employer expectations, analysts say.
AO points to early alumni outcomes as evidence the model works. “The Mavericks Program is rich with alumni who’ve gone on to pioneer new creative formats and mentor the next generation themselves,” said Alexandra Chapatte noting that Mavericks cohorts have moved into meaningful roles and contributed to AO productions.
For local media and producers, the scheme is a talent pipeline: brands and content houses looking for producers, editors and creative leads can tap a cohort already trained on real-world briefs.
AO says the programme’s emphasis on mentorship, skills assessments and measurable 100-day plans is designed to convert quality early-career talent into permanent hires faster than many traditional internships.
AO is preparing an expanded roll-out in 2026 and exploring a graduate trainee programme to run alongside the internship scheme.
