Empowerment programme to receive more funding
Youth and Public Service Principal Secretary Lilian Mbogo and Office of the President Senior Advisor on Education Kilemi Mwiria flag off a leadership event at Mt Kenya National Park, Sirmon gate, on March 13, 2016. She said the activity is important in shaping future leaders. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Involving youth from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania, the award's Kenya branch Executive Director Nellie Munala said the task grants young people with the opportunity to discover and nurture potential leadership skills.
The Youth and Public Service ministry will increase funding for the President’s Award-Kenya initiative.
Principal Secretary Lilian Mbogo said her ministry is committed to offering both financial and human resource support to the programme, which enables recruits to build strength of character for positive contribution to the society.
“Our ministry is committed to increase support to the President’s Award-Kenya programme by providing both financial and human capital resources as they had previously requested,” Mrs Mbogo said.
She spoke at Mt Kenya National Park in Meru on Sunday during the launch of the “Seeing is believing” event, whereby 110 young people are expected to climb Mt Kenya -- up to Lenana peak.
Involving youth from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Tanzania, the award's Kenya branch Executive Director Nellie Munala said the task grants young people with the opportunity to discover and nurture potential leadership skills.
The Award was established in 1956 by Lord John Hunt to empower students, between the ages of 14 and 18, who had completed school before they joined the national service.
Lord Hunt was the leader of the first team to successfully reach Mt Everest's summit.
The programme was designed around four areas: rescue and public service training, expedition, pursuits and projects, and fitness.
It initially catered only for boys aged between 14 and 18, but rising demand for a similar scheme for girls led to its relaunch in September 1958.
The programme has evolved over the years, adopting its current format, which focuses on service, adventurous journey, skills, and physical recreation, in 1980. The upper age limit was also extended to 25.
In 1966, Kenya’s founding father, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, launched the Kenyan chapter of the programme, which was mainly incorporated into secondary schools.
