·
Youth entrepreneurship and Scholarship programme to target
children homes nationally
·
Real People injects Kshs 5 million to kick start the youth
entrepreneurship and
Scholarship programme
Nairobi,
November 27, 2015: Credit-only
microfinance institution, Real People has today in partnership with the Kenya
Institute of Management (KIM) launched a youth entrepreneurship programme and
Scholarship targeting the vulnerable from children homes.
Dubbed
‘Guardian Scholarship Programme’, the programme which will be
administered by KIM and funded by both the Institute and Real People Limited
will target needy children, especially those currently enrolled at various
children’s homes with the ultimate goal of – provision of Diploma courses, a
move that is expected to increase access to education especially to children
above the age of 18 years that are expelled from children homes.
Launching
the programme, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi
noted: “As a Ministry, we are indeed happy to see contribution by the private
sector towards the education sector. The importance of education cannot be
over-emphasized. At the individual level, education offers the learners an
opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills that are critical to ensuring that
people are able to participate competitively in all sectors of life.”
According
to UNICEF statistics, more than half of newly released orphans after the age of
18 years are recruited to a life of crime or prostitution or life in the
streets while 30 per cent become addicted to alcohol and other drugs during
their first year of living independently exposing them to risks of STI’s and
AIDS epidemic coupled with early pregnancies.
“This
is a significant milestone in the growth and development of our educational
sector in the country. We have so far made a commitment of Kshs 5 million that
will go towards kicking off the programme with 33 orphaned children and with
KIM’s educational infrastructure, our young ones will get enrolled for a
Diploma in Management so as to start businesses and grow our economy,” noted
Daniel Ohonde, Chief Executive Officer, Real People East Africa.
He
added: “The programme is open for all children homes in the country and will
have periodic intakes level so as to enable all children have better access to
education so as to improve their economic livelihoods.”
On
his part, Kenya Institute of Management, Managing Director, Dr. David Muturi
noted, “We are delighted to be partnering with like-minded organization that
equally appreciates that children should get access to basic education so as to
reduce the numbers of orphaned children in the streets. We have previously
sponsored other leadership programmes and so with this scholarship programme,
we will be consolidating all these efforts for maximum benefits.”
UNICEF reports further cites that many of these children move in
with relatives after the deaths of their parents, are often put to work, denied
the opportunity to attend school, and suffer physical abuse. Many run away or
are forced out of the house. These children turn to the street or an orphanage
for refuge.
Comments
Post a Comment