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.
