Two philanthropic organizations in Siaya will team up to train students’ leadership in schools so as to improve discipline and education standards.
Tiji and Bishop Wasonga foundations will partner with the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association in Siaya county to help the youth in schools to overcome mental health challenges and stress that have occasionally been blamed for student unrest and other indiscipline cases.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of a meeting with the school heads and KESSHA officials from Gem and Alego / Usonga constituencies, retired head of the Anglican diocese of Maseno West, Rt. Rev. Joseph Otieno Wasonga said that a number of young people were faced with various challenges that impact on their mental health hence the need for intervention.
He said that the initiative will partner with Agape counseling and training services to provide psychological support to students and train student leaders such as prefects to become peer counselors in their respective schools.
Bishop Wasonga said that once trained as peer counselors, the prefects will be able to reach their fellow students and tackle their problems hence arresting situations that could explode.
“Mental health is not an isolated issue. It comes in the context of community and the environment in which people live,” said the bishop adding that the initiative will also be available to other members of the schools’ community such as parents, workers and teachers.
The director of Tiji Foundation, Mr. Timothy Odende said that they will also help needy students pay school fees and urged school heads, especially in Gem constituency not to send away students with fees arrears but instead get in touch with the foundation.
“We are telling KESSHA members from Gem not to send away needy children from Gem. They should share the students’ details with the Foundation which has offices in every ward in the constituency,” said Odende.
He said that the initiatives are aimed at improving education performance of local students and called for support.
On behalf of the KESSHA, the principal of Sawagongo boys’ high school Mr. Maurice Ogutu hailed the two Foundations for their initiative, adding that school heads were having it rough keeping students in schools without adequate funds.
“It has been a difficult task retaining children in school without fees. This has come at the right time when school authorities have challenges collecting fees and maintaining students, especially candidates in schools” said Ogutu.
Ogutu said that KESSHA will fully support the initiatives by both Tiji and Wasonga foundations.