The Red Cross Society of Kenya will from next month embark on a Youth Life Saving Skills Training Programme targeting local youth groups, universities, colleges and Secondary Schools students in Nakuru County.
Speaking on Monday from his office in Nakuru town, the director in charge of the training programmes in Nakuru, Philip Kang’ethe, said the programme would aim at equipping selected youth in the county with relevant life saving skills that will help protect lives.
According to Kang’ethe, Red Cross will collaborate with the county government and other stakeholders to train youth with life saving skills like fire fighting, first aid, rescue operations, self defence, HIV/AIDs counselling, drugs and alcohol abuse counselling and domestic violence and marital counselling.
“We are equipped with information and other facilities to conduct this programme starting from next month. What we are doing now is mapping and contacting the target groups. We are sure that this programme will have a lasting impact on the youth and other residents of Nakuru County,” said Kang’ethe.
He added that the programme was informed by rising insecurity in the country like terrorism, fire and road accidents and also rampant drug and alcohol abuse among the youth in the country.
The training director further observed that the Red Cross Society’s principles and mandates allows it to engage in social change programmes like the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, prevention of deadly ailments like HIVAIDS and also family violence among others.