A total of 31 bright students from public-day secondary schools in Murang’a County who are joining various universities this year have undergone a three-month pre-university mentorship programme championed and funded by AMICA Sacco.
The programme dubbed ‘Vuka Mentorship’ is aimed at bringing on board bright students from public day schools in Murang’a who attained university entry grades to train and mentor them on life skills before joining their respective institutions of higher learning.
During their graduation ceremony held at Ihura Stadium on Sunday, Sacco’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. James Mbui, noted that the programme’s main objective was to prepare the youths for the job market and mould future leaders as a way of giving back to society.
“The students were attached to the Amica Sacco branch near them to experience the work environment, relate with people, provide solutions, and interact with people from their community as officers,” said Mbui in a function that was attended by Murang’a County government leadership.
The CEO said, “Each student had at least two mentors: a branch manager and a head of department. Their role was not only to guide and advise during their time with Amica but also to continue supporting them through their campus years and beyond.”
During the programme, Mbui stated the students underwent training on a wide range of essential life skills, including self-awareness, stress management, building positive relationships, overcoming storms of life, life at university, work ethics, and professionalism.
“We collaborated with the County Education Office to identify the top students from public secondary schools, ensuring we incorporated those with the most potential,” he remarked.
Mbui further observed that students in public-day secondary schools face various challenges that impact their educational experience and overall well-being, explaining that it takes a lot of hard work, determination, and discipline for them to excel academically.
He noted that most students from public-day schools are from poor families and have less exposure to the real world, like social media and freedom from parents’ rules and regulations.
“There is a world out here where they need to be guided on how to live, unleash their potential, and dominate. So, our coaching and training are tailored to their specific needs to address all their growth areas,” he said.
During the occasion, students who performed exemplarily were rewarded with laptops, among other items, as they prepared to join universities. “We are also going to give each student Sh. 10,000 as a token of encouragement as they embark on joining universities,” stated Mbui.
By Bernard Munyao
