At least 3,500 young people in Garissa County have benefitted from a week-long training program on character building, skills development and community service aimed at moulding them into responsible citizens.
The program, implemented by the President’s Award Kenya (PAK), is targeting young people aged between 14 and 24, drawn from the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS), Secondary schools, training colleges and universities.
More than 138,000 young Kenyans are currently enrolled in the award scheme, with the programme targeting a million youth in the next five years.
Christine Chacha, a project coordinator with PAK, said the program will also inspire the young people to take up leadership roles, create an environment for their ideas to flourish and make their voices to be heard, hence fostering a sense of belonging among the youth.
“We encourage them to pursue skills of their choice and take up community service programs and participate in sporting activities to keep them physically fit,” Chacha said.
“This program teaches our young people to be responsible citizens and also the skills they learn in the process can be used to generate income or increase their chances of employability. We further recognize them by giving out certificates which are recognised globally,” she added.
The program offers three levels of certification; Bronze for the first level, Silver for level 2 and Gold, which is awarded by the President himself.
Garissa sub county director for Education, Rashid Muktar, encouraged the youths in the region to come out in large numbers to join the program, and further enroll in technical colleges to acquire hands-on skills, which are much needed in the implementation of various projects in the region.
“Our youth and learners in the schools are facing very many challenges which affect their lives, health or studies, this program will therefore mentor these learners early enough to support and guide them so that they have defined goals,” Muktar said.
“The students will further acquire vital skills that will be relevant in their lives going forward,” he added.
Muktar called on the young people in the north eastern region to go for the technical courses and learn hands-on skills.
He regretted that there are numerous opportunities in the informal sector in the region but the local youths are shy to take up those opportunities, calling for a change of perception on the skill related jobs in the informal sector.
Simon Irungu, a student at the Garissa University, said that the program has helped to keep the young people busy and away from crime and drug abuse, and has offered an opportunity for them to give back to the society through community service.
By Erick Kyalo