As learners head home for the first term break, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has unveiled a ten days mentorship programme targeting 1800 form four students to keep them away from indecorous behaviour.
Under the initiative dubbed Governor’s Mentorship programme students drawn from all 30 wards will be engaged in motivational talks, first aid certification and other useful skills training.
The students will receive a daily of stipend of Sh150 for transport and lunch while Sh250 will be saved to pay for their school fees when school reopen for the second term. The stipend will be paid through a mobile money transfer pegged on attendance.
“The payment will go to the account of the child, for every day the student will attend biometrics will be taken to confirm attendance. Each student will receive Sh400,’’ said Governor Nassir adding payments will be made after every two days.
The holiday period, Governor Nassir said can prove to be a challenge for parents as young men and women tend to be left at home idle and vulnerable to getting into bad vices.
“I call upon parents to enroll their children into this initiative. Let us work hand in hand to keep our children out of harm’s way. I am committed to keeping our next generation in school,’’ said the Governor during the launch of the programme in Kisauni constituency.
The Governor termed the initiative as one of its kind in the whole country. The programme, he said is not compulsory or tuition but is meant to ensure the students are indulged in productive activities while on holiday.
The programme in the pilot phase will be rolled out for all students during the August holiday.
“It’s a mentorship programme, youth will have library classes when the program is expanded. Students will be taught how to serve the community and deployed to orphanages, and homes for the elderly to get them involved in community services instead of idling,’’ said Governor Nassir.
Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba urged the form four students to work hard in their academics in order to excel in national examinations.
Bedzimba said the noble initiative by the Governor will inevitably reduce juvenile crime in Mombasa as the youth will focus on their education.
Last year, Governor Abdulswamad Sharif Nassir launched a programme christened Mombasa ni yangu that targeted more than 2000 jobless youth to work in the environment, tour guiding, beach safety marshals, traffic flow enhancement and beautification.
By Sadik Hassan
