It wasn't me

Youth Changers Kenya (YCK) has had the opportunity to offer mentor ship and leadership sessions in a number of schools in Kiambu County throughout the past term. This aimed at addressing a number of challenges that young people experience. The progress made has been evident. Behavior and attitude change are positive observations that the team has worked towards improving. The schools are incredible but a number of challenges still remain.

Despite loving reaching out to young people there moments when patience runs out. The level of discipline in some of the schools YCK has visited is low. Pertinent questions go through our minds. Do parents research appropriately concerning where they take their children to school, do we listen to our young people when they complain about certain challenges in school, is the school management to blame?  Do parents and young people have an existing relationship that gives room for dialogue not monologue? We can ask ourselves so many endless questions.

In the past month the media has been highlighting reports of how property has been destroyed in schools and 2 students dying due to unrest. This is really agonizing but who is to blame?. Charity begins at home is an old saying that has existed for years. But guess what this simple proverb is a great reality for many of us now.  Parents and guardians play a critical role in who one becomes this is because they mold up our personalities while individuals are growing up. Parents young people model a lot from you if you are doing the wrong things this young people will at some point follow suit. You have no choice than to up your integrity game.

In the process of working with young people a number of discoveries have been identified:  Some of vices exhibited by young people are as a result of where they come from, Lack of role models, Identity versus role confusion and poor parenting. When having interactions with them in the past three months elements of despair, not being understood, frustrations from homes were quite clear. Our young people have lost hope in life. And if this is not addressed appropriately from homes the truth of the matter is many of them will be lost along the way. These world changers are full of incredible ideas that can make a difference but this potential can be achieved with the support and guidance of parents

Schools have an equal share too regarding this menace. They have a responsibility to ensure that there is a hospitable environment for young people to learn and grow without any form of intimidation. Systems and good management are important in ensuring these objectives are met. Young people on the other hand need help and guidance from parents and mentors to navigate through adolescence crisis as they transition to adulthood. They are easily swayed by peers and many of them have formed unhealthy gang groups that are known for doing bad things in institutions. For all the NGO’s working with children and youth it is imperative to be flexible and adjust interventions to suit the needs of the youthful population’s due to the new dynamics unfolding. Let us integrate our interventions to achieve effectiveness in our undertakings.

Parents young people are looking for people to emulate, note that you are their primary source of influence thus you have no option but to be a good example. Parents cannot relent on taking up responsibility. Schools come in second in exerting secondary influence thus they can only enforce that which you have instilled in young people. Parents take up the challenge, learn from mistakes and let’s make the lives of youth better.