The Kenyan chapter of the President Award now targets to enroll one million young people into its volunteer and mentorship program to nurture their resilience and leadership skills.

The initiative will see the number of young people between 14 years to 24 years old enrolled in the program grow from the current 140,000 to one million in the next five years.

According to Cabinet Secretary for Youths Affairs and Creative Economy Salim Mvurya, the initiative will see the beneficiaries accrue the priority benefits of securing posts within the Public Service Commission criteria.

Mvurya said the presidential proclamation recognizes that certificates awarded under the programme serve as a testament to an individual’s commitment to excellence, perseverance, and service to the nation.

The CS said the awards establish that holders of the awarded certificates shall be accorded precedence in public service recruitment, training, and advancement opportunities in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to civic responsibility and leadership.

PS for Higher Education Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, they would target learning institutions and youth empowerment centres to create awareness on the program and push the recruitment drive.

Dr. Inyangala said the award board was partnering with private sector players to marshal enough resources to drive and sustain the initiative going forward.

The PS said the government was enhancing training of lecturers and teachers to provide a better learning approach that will boost the youths’ communication skills, critical thinking, and leadership competencies.

“We are targeting institutions as centres of excellence to be the drive for the recruitment drive, including high schools, TVETs, and universities, to create awareness and meet your set targets,” said Inyangala.

On her part, the award CEO, Margret Kiogora, said the match to one million beneficiaries had started and will build young people’s competencies across all fronts that will enable them to overcome life challenges.

Kiogora said the program awards bronze to young people volunteering for up to six months, silver for those exposed to one year, and gold for a two-year mentorship cohort.

Further, Kiogora said the program also incorporates the use of modern technology, including enabling the beneficiaries to tap artificial intelligence in a healthy way.

Prof. Daniel Mugendi, the Vice Chancellor of Embu University, said his institution had onboarded its learners into the programme, which will build their competences to confront life challenges.

Martin Brown, the Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, said the award, which started in the United Kingdom 70 years ago, has spread to 130 countries.

Brown said the initiative will enable the beneficiaries to tap emerging technology, especially Artificial Intelligence noting that the world was rapidly changing.

According to Joseph Icheri, a beneficiary and holder of the Gold award, said the program exposed him to lifelong skills, including building his confidence and resilience and exploring his full potential.

The award challenges beneficiaries to confront emerging technologies, including the rapid rise in artificial intelligence systems, within an equal measure of resilience and know-how and skills to understand the limits of privacy, human rights and agreed responsibilities.

By Erastus Gichohi and Beatrice Wanjiku