About 79 youths coming from vulnerable backgrounds in Laikipia County have benefitted from a government scholarship programme aimed at equipping them with technical and life skills.
Speaking during the launch of the programme in Nanyuki town, Laikipia County, Kenya National Library Service Manager Ms Dorothy Ileri said they had mobilized the youths and linked them with Technical and Vocational Education Training Institute (TVETs) after realizing majority of them were not able to continue with their studies beyond form four education.
“Majority of these students are the ones that have been coming to the library and they have been taking computer classes, and when talking to them we realized their parents are not able to take them to colleges and that when we thought in collaborating with TVETs,” said Ileri, adding that the students would study engineering courses, beauty and therapy, social work, ICT among other courses.
She further said that the students were going to benefit from the Kenya Universities and College Central Placement Service and other government bursaries in paying their tuition fee, however they would cater for accommodation for the period they will be in school.
Ileri noted students opted to go to Mitungu Technical Institute in Meru County where some would undertake certificate and diploma courses.
Laikipia East Sub County Youth Affairs Officer Stephen Kariuki said that was a noble initiative since it would increase youths’ employability.
“70 per cent of our population are youths and issues of unemployment, mental health, sexual transmitted diseases and crimes are issues that are bogging down the youths who are the majority in our country,” said Kariuki.
He revealed that as the Ministry of Youth they train youths on entrepreneurship skills before giving them funds and at the same time urging them to take opportunities presented to them by the government to better their lives.
Ms Jane Wangui, one of the beneficiaries said she was happy since she would be able to study mechanical engineering which is very passionate about.
By Muturi Mwangi
