NAIROBI, Kenya 1st June, 2023- Over 300 young people from Taveta sub-county have benefited from the Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) COVID-19 Response and Recovery Project under The President’s Award-Kenya (PA-K). (GYM) COVID-19 Recovery Project was inspired by the need to tackle a global crisis in education, rising unemployment, mental health crisis, and increased domestic and gender-based violence among young women and girls, and under-represented and marginalized communities; which escalated during the pandemic. Worldwide, 132 million girls are out of school and girls face many barriers to accessing the education they need to take the lead in their lives. Young people and future generations continue to shoulder much of the long-term socio-economic consequences of the crisis. However, the disruption in their access to education and employment opportunities as a result of the economic downturn put the young generation on a much more volatile trajectory in finding and maintaining quality lives. According to PA-K CEO Ms. Munala, the GYM Covid-19 Recovery Project targeted 47 countries including Kenya. Taveta sub-county in Kenya became a recipient of this global initiative because of the high incidence rates of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) during the 2019-2020 global pandemic and surge in the number of teenage pregnancies in Taita Taveta. Beneficiaries
The Covid-19 Response and Recovery Project opened its doors to young people from Timbila location in Taveta sub-county in September 2021, with the help of Volunteer Trainers and Community Leaders. A total of 377 participants have graduated having been equipped with the relevant skills, resources, and linkages to help them improve their lives and that of their communities. 75% of the trainees are teen mothers who were unable to continue with their education. ‘The young people are drawn from diverse backgrounds particularly the marginalized and those who were negatively affected by the pandemic. A number of participants engaged in the project, have started generating income,’ said Ms. Munala. The GYM initiative aims to shine a spotlight on young people whose lives were disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
About GYM Global Youth Mobilization (GYM) is an initiative of young people and voluntary organizations in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) that improves the lives of young people in the post-COVID-19 world. COVID-19 Response and Recovery Project was enabled courtesy of the GYM in collaboration with the Big 6 Youth Organizations namely: (The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)
World Alliance of Young Men’s Christian Associations (YMCA)
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) PA-K, which was launched in Kenya in 1966, is a member of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which oversees the Award Programme in over one hundred and forty (140) countries. The project is designed to not only mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on young people but also empower them to support their communities to overcome the challenges caused by the disruption. The Centre tailors courses relevant to the needs of the trainees. Skills transferred include tailoring, baking, and traditional food making. Others are hairdressing beauty and Barbering; soap, and bead-making. Ms. Munala observed that access to diverse and accessible learning opportunities is critical for young people to thrive in a fast-changing world. ‘Non-formal education, best suited to help young people acquire life skills, values, and resilience to social changes, is often underestimated. We need to recognize the benefits of non-formal education to enable young people and communities to reach their full potential,’ she said. Project implementation team PA-K would like to thank Mr. Cornelius Mnene, a retired Principal and an Award Holder for leading the implementation of the Covid-19 Recovery Project in Kenya. Ms. Munala also applauds the Uwezo Fund, State Department for Social Protection – Community Capacity, Support and Development Division, Youth Department – ICT, and County Commission Sub-county office for playing a part in the project implementation. ENDS…
For more information, please contact: Name: Neddy Mbori- Senior Public Communications Officer Cell phone: 0710121110 Email: neddy.mbori@presidentsaward.or.ke About The President’s Award- Kenya PA-K The President’s Award- Kenya PA-K, which was launched in Kenya in 1966, is a member of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which oversees the Award Programme in over 140 countries. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was founded by His Royal Highness (HRH), The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT in 1956, in conjunction with Kurt Hahn, a German educationalist, and Sir John Hunt. PA-K is an Agency established by an Act of Parliament, President’s Award Act No. 30 of 2017. It is an exciting self-development program available to all young people countrywide, equipping them with positive life skills to make a difference for themselves, their communities, their country, and the world. PA-K is a non-formal education and learning framework through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognized and celebrated. The young people engaged are between the ages of fourteen (14) to twenty-four (24) years. The main aim is to equip young people for life by encouraging them to acquire universal skills to help them thrive. The universal skills are achieved through engagement in activities that include getting physically active, volunteering within their communities, and discovering a sense of adventure outside the classroom.
Mombasa, Kenya 16th May, 2023- Over 300 Bronze and Silver President’s Award-Kenya (PA-K) participants from 28 schools in coast region were recognized and awarded certificates for successfully completing the two levels of the Award programme.
he world. It helps young people to believe in themselves, enables them appreciate diversity of the world and make them ready for life.
Munala elaborated that there are three levels of the Award programme one can do which, when successfully completed will lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Gold is the third and final level of the Award, and takes a minimum of 12 months to complete or 18 months if one has not completed Silver.
In the Award, PA-K believes that not all learning happens in the classroom and therefore the operations are in terms of guiding institutions on how they can structure their free time such that as much as learning happens in the classroom, the learning that happens outside the classroom is intentional therefore PA-K provides a framework for that.
She said PA-K’s Strategy realignment is to provide enhanced access, expand its reach and demonstrate the impact of the Award in transforming lives and communities.
She revealed that there are over 120,000 young people currently participating in the Award in over 1,200 schools, Universities, Middle level Colleges, Youth groups, rehabilitation centres and open Award Centres across the country.
Globally, more than one million young people are striving to achieve their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards in more than 140 countries and territories. The President’s Award – Kenya ranks 1st in the Africa Regional and 2nd globally after the United Kingdom for its participation levels and impact in the society.
Ms. Munala stressed that the Award in Kenya has included young people from diverse social-cultural, economic and geographical backgrounds. ‘The Award is available in correctional centres, borstal institutions and is being rolled out to inmates in prison departments within the Award participation age bracket,’ she said. The CEO said PA-K is exploring ways of strengthening the Award delivery at respective Institutions and more importantly network in order to take the Award to the next level in coast region. ‘We are advantaged to have the presence of the offices of the Regional Director’s, Ministry of Education and Teacher’s Service Commission, who, I believe are at a vantage position to enable the Award Programme expand across the region effectively,’ noted Ms. Munala. So far over 500,000 participants have gone through the Award Programme. A majority of them are now in their adult stages and are serving the country in various spheres of development. The Award participants from various Award centers across the country are investing thousands of hours every week through community service and residential projects to positively contribute to development solutions in communities. In the last 4 years Award participants invested an estimated 4.5million hours in community service. She urged administrators in the Education sector to support in advancing the cause of the Award so that many more students and adult helpers can participate and benefit from the Award experience. The President’s Award – Kenya is committed to strengthening partnerships in the Education sector so that we can collaboratively expand the avenues for strong positive character formation for our young people. ENDS… For more information, please contact: Name: Neddy Mbori- Senior Public Communications Officer Cell phone: 0710121110 Email: neddy.mbori@presidentsaward.or.ke About The President’s Award- Kenya PA-K The President’s Award- Kenya PA-K, which was launched in Kenya in 1966, is a member of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award which oversees the Award Programme in over 140 countries. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was founded by His Royal Highness (HRH), The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT in 1956, in conjunction with Kurt Hahn, a German educationalist and Sir John Hunt. PA-K is an Agency established by an Act of Parliament, President’s Award Act No. 30 of 2017. It is an exciting self-development programme available to all young people countrywide equipping them with positive life skills to make a difference for themselves, their communities, country and the world. PA-K is a non-formal education and learning framework through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognized and celebrated. The young people engaged are between the ages of fourteen (14) to twenty-four (24) years. The main aim is to equip young people for life by encouraging them to acquire universal skills to help them thrive. The universal skills are achieved through engagement in activities that include getting physically active, volunteering within their communities, and discovering a sense of adventure outside the classroom.
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