First Lady launches mentorship programme to empower youth

First Lady Margaret Kenyatta Thursday evening unveiled a mentorship programme to empower the youth to confidently reject retrogressive practices, behaviours and ideas that are obstacles to realizing their full potential.

She listed substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, vulgarity, aggression and violence as some of the risky and unmanageable behaviors that distract the youth and children from concentrating in morally upright and ethical lifestyles.

“If all the Kenyan youth and children embrace the ideals of the new mentorship programme dubbed “It is cool to say no”, they will reject   anything that prematurely steals their innocence including engaging in such sub-cultures as public nudity and warlike activities,” said the First Lady.

“They will also confidently say no to all retrogressive cultures like Female Genital Mutilation, beading and early marriages and any practices that deprive them of their rights to education, growth and development.”

The mentorship programme is the brainchild of the National Assembly Lady Spouses Association of Kenya (Nalsa-K) which brings together lady spouses of the Members of Parliament  under the leadership of Jackie Kiaraho who is the  organization’s national Chairperson.

The First Lady launched the mentorship programme during a colourful Gala Dinner-cum fundraiser organized by Nalsa(K) at a Nairobi hotel.

The First lady, also the patron of Nalsa, said the programme comes at a time when many Kenyan youth and children have been rendered socially insecure in their quest for media-defined ideals.

“More and more of our children’s futures are being compromised. Substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, vulgarity and violence all eat away at our children’s lives,” she added.

These children, she said, lack positive role models and end up without proper moral compass and ethical backbone to navigate their lives in a complicated society.