A student carries books at the Senator Obama primary school. [Photo/gz.com]
Plan International Kenya has spent over Sh. 11.9 Million to support the education of girl child in Homa Bay County for the last two years.
Out of the amount, the organization has spent Sh. 2.5 Million to rehabilitate 99 girls who were married off before maturity, under their program “Ending Child marriage”.
Addressing over 180 students and their guardians in Homa Bay town during a mentorship program, Plan Kenya Regional Manager for Western and Nyanza regions, Raphael Aoko said the program is useful in that it assisted students who had lost hope in life.
Aoko called on parents to make sure they played their parental roles effectively and asked those with girls who had fallen victim to unplanned pregnancies to expose them to such programs.
The Manager further challenged students to remain focused and dedicate most of their time to studying so as to benefit from the program.
One of the mentors who spoke to the students Dr Ojwang Odhiambo urged parents to sensitize their children on the detrimental effects of abusing drugs.
Dr Odhiambo said drug abuse was a major challenge on education in Kenya and asked students to keep away from bad influence and concentrate on class work.
The medic advised students to set a positive goal for what they want in future and work closely with their parents to realise their dreams.
He added that pupils who have over- abused drugs and cannot concentrate in their studies can be taken to and counseling and close
supervision and they can later resume learning after recovery.