A non-governmental organization has embarked on a programme to assist at least 400 youth who sat for KCSE but were not able to join University in Bunyala Sub County.
Addressing the press in Bunyala on Wednesday, the chairman of the Great Lakes Youth Empowerment Foundation Benson Bwire noted that 80% of those who sit for KCSE do not make it to the University and become desperate in life.
“We want to empower youth to prosper in life by pursuing middle level courses so that they can be self-reliant,” he said adding that if this group is ignored, then insecurity and other ills in the society would be on the rise within the country.
Bwire added that the organization is in Busia, Kisumu, Homabay and Migori counties with a view to ensure that the youth around the Lake region are self-reliant.
“As an organization, we do mobilize for funds in collaboration with other partners to help us support youth by linking them with technical training institutions like Bumbe, Bunyala, Bondo technical, Siaya institute of technology and Seme technical institute.
Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala thanked the organization for coming up with the programme adding that a number of youth across the country are disadvantaged to the extent that they cannot pursue higher education.
“We are registering the intended youth beneficiaries and we would like them to make their own career choices devoid of parental influence,” he said.
Wanjala pointed out that the country is importing goods which would have better been assembled from within if we had passionate citizens.
“The organization has offered to pay Sh54,000 for each student’s tuition per year and the National Government Constituency Development Fund will pump in Sh1.5 million translating to Sh4,500 per student for accommodation as parents prepare to take responsibility in the second year,” he said.
He urged the successful candidates to pursue the courses to the very end so that money spent on them is not wasted.
By Salome Alwanda
