JITUNZE UJITUZE Mentors’ Training Workshop
Adolescents in Kenya, like the rest of the world, are growing up amidst a set of problems of historically unmatched scope and severity in this new era. They have to deal with interrelated issues of economic developments, poverty, crime, violence , drug abuse , early pregnancies among many others.
Acknowledging this grim reality, KenGen Foundation in partnership with The Wellbeing Institute are implementing a youth development programme called Jitunze Ujituze (JUT) , which translates to “Tend to yourself, Crown yourself”. The main goal is to promote positive life outcomes in Kenyan children and adolescents in the society by focusing on their strengths and the assets of their communities.
Spearheaded by Dr Edward Buri and Mr Mbutu Kariuki of The Wellbeing Institute, the project is to achieve its goals by a well and carefully orchestrated mentorship programme guided by a very elaborate syllabus. The mentors are to be youth leaders in direct contact with the adolescents in the communities.
Training for the first group of mentors, the Ngong Chapter, occurred on Friday 22nd September 2022 at New Life Church in Ngong. Conducted by Dr. Buri, the training began by introducing the initiative , the organisations behind it and the leaders and representatives of the latter.
KenGen Foundation’s Managing Trustee, Anthony Igecha elaborately introduced KenGen and KenGen Foundation to all present, explaining its operations and why the Foundation chose to partner with the Wellbeing Institute on the project. Mr Mbutu Kariuki then took up the podium to talk on the goals and intended outcomes of the project, not sparing anyone of his wit and humor while at it. He also explained on methodology of implementation and Activity Excecution for the mentorship programme.
Dr. Buri took the young mentors through the Activity Excecution of the project, sprinkling a few stories from his life and anecdotes of wisdom in between. He also went through the mentorship syllabus with the mentors and how to apply it while in the field.
Hopes are high upon the commencement of the first phase of the project, but the work has only begun. The programme which covers areas of self love, talent discovery, life goals, money skills, environmental conservation, community contribution and “rolling up your sleeves” is set to grow into an intensive media campaign in the following months encompassing all forms of popular media; television, radio and social media. The whole project is to run over a period of 36 months from October 2022 and all aprties involved are enthusiastic that all milestones will be achieved within the stipulated time.
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Emmanuel Murgor,
Communication Attachee
@tweets
