First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has unveiled a unique mentorship programme that empowers the youth to confidently reject all retrogressive practices, behaviors and ideas that are obstacles to realising their full potential.
The new mentorship programme is the brainchild of the National Assembly Lady Spouses Association of Kenya (Nalsa) (K).
The association brings together lady spouses of the members of Parliament under the leadership of Jackie Kiaraho, who is the association’s National Chairperson.
Mrs Kenyatta launched the new mentorship programme during a colourful Gala Dinner-cum fundraiser organized by Nalsa(K) in a Nairobi hotel on Thursday.
She also presided over a fundraiser where she pledged to give Sh1 million to enable Nalsa roll out the mentorship programme across the counties.
Each of the Nalsa members has contributed Sh120,000 towards the programme.
She listed substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, vulgarity, aggression and violence as some of the risky and unmanageable behaviors that distract the youth and children from concentrating in morally upright and ethical lifestyles.
“If all the Kenyan youth and children embrace the ideals of the new mentorship programme dubbed “It is cool to say no”, they will reject anything that prematurely steals their innocence including engaging in such sub-cultures as public nudity and warlike activities.”
“They will also confidently say no to all retrogressive cultures like Female Genital Mutilation, beading and early marriages and any practices that deprive them of their rights to education, growth and development,” she said.
The First lady, also the patron of Nalsa, said the new mentorship programme comes at a time when many Kenyan youth and children had been rendered socially insecure in their quest for media-defined ideals.
“More and more of our children’s futures are being compromised. Substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, vulgarity and violence all eat away at our children’s lives,” she said.
These children, she said, lack positive role models and end up without proper moral compass and ethical backbone to navigate their lives in a complicated society.
And she asked politicians to stop their perennial wrangling and bitters exchanges in public and serve as role models to the youth and children.
The First Lady said it was disheartening to hear children regale in stories about the behaviors of members of parliament.
“The situation is made worse by parents who are only keen on academic excellence of their children, rather than nurturing values of character amongst the children. Sometimes, we parents lay too much emphasis on academic studies, and pay little attention to building virtues that will mould our children,” she said.
The First Lady said with proper investment on young people, the youth holds the greatest opportunity not only for the country, but the whole African continent.
“With the right investment, we can raise a generation of change makers: a generation of inventors, innovators, problem solvers, peacemakers, faithful wives, noble husbands, wise mothers and dutiful fathers,” she said.
The First Lady said Nalsa’s mentorship programme will not replace the work of teachers (in regular school system) nor that of parents in setting the right examples for the children.
She said Nalsa’s school mentorship programme will only bridge the missing gaps in nurturing the youth and mitigate emerging social challenges.
“It (Nalsa) exists exists to provide children with the counselling, support, and soft skills they need to succeed. It exists to nurture, guide and develop young children, into strong citizens of high moral standing and deep conviction,” said the First Lady.
Commending Nalsa for investing in the mentorship programme, the First Lady implored all parents to embrace what she described as the “difficult, challenging, but highly rewarding work of parenting.
“I urge you to care not just about what they are becoming in life but to also care about who they are becoming too—as friends, as citizens and as human beings. I urge all Kenyans to pursue the holistic development of their children,” she said.
She said mentorship work for the Kenyan youth requires collective partnerships and commitment adding that it cannot be just left to parents, teachers and the church.
Mrs Kiaraho said Nalsa will roll-out phase one of the mentorship programme across 50 constituencies. The programme starts in upper primary schools where children are at their most vulnerable stages.
Besides Nalsa members, others at the Gala Dinner included members of parliament, governors’ spouses and members of the business community.