Guide Experience
The Story
Kenya is a country of the youth and the 2019 Population and Census results shows that 75% of the 47.6 million population is under the age of 35. The youth between the ages of 14 to 18 constitutes about 26 % of the total population, and are actively in high school and entering the labour market. Unfortunately unemployment in Kenya today, stands at 40%, and of this 70% are the unemployed are youth. The World Bank estimates that approximately 1000,000 youth manage to be absorbed into the labor market each year, but only a paltry 50,000 manage to secure employment in the professional sectors after school. The rest don’t have the necessary appraisals to innovate and create jobs away from the formal sector. Not surprisingly, the high level of unemployment has been blamed for the vicious cycle of poverty in homes, escalating incidents of, delinquency, crime and insecurity.
According to other studies, there is a major mismatch between the theoretical skill-set imparted on young learners at their respective schools, and industry demands in terms of practical competencies after school. This is attributed to inadequate information, guidance and leadership which can complicate lives of learners both in and after school. It is also well understood that children are born with talents, skills and creativity that can be natured and developed. The school tests are not always a true measure of the ability of young people.
Majority of Youth, particularly in rural disadvantaged environments and under resourced schools have inadequate or completely lack access to opportunities, unaware of unlimited possibilities and have not develop their full potentials owing to number of factors, including but not limited to lack of and inadequate exposure, inadequate personal development, inadequate information on careers, inadequate guidance on innovation, inadequate guidance on development of talents, and inadequate peer networking opportunities.. There is need to bridge the mentorship divide among underserved and deserving youth and the best point of entry is in high school when the world of possibilities, potentials and opportunities begins to open up
It is this gap that Guide project seeks to remedy. This requires a long term holistic approach – there can be no shortcuts. This innovative initiative seeks to bridge the missing links that exist among high school youth using the school as a resource Centre. In this, the youth will come out as empowered citizens ready to improve their lives and that of their communities.
The Approach
A learner with GUiDE Project embarks on an enriching journey from the first year in high school through the final year. GUiDE will be there for learners for just as long as possible in school. This is a one step at a time until ultimately they become independent self-aware young people, able to develop themselves, make right choices, take up opportunities, find and create meaningful employment, create social and business and improve their lives and that of their communities.
The school will be used to establish GUiDE club and carry out activities like idea creation and incubation, innovation and team meetings. The resource center will be manned by a lead mentor/patron. The mentors will also work to identify young learners facing difficulty in their school and education journey.
In the GUiDE Clubs shall engage both professional mentors and alumni for the same. The GUiDE alumni will create a lifelong professional network of friends, committed to service at all centers. They will be equipped to often drop in to visit by their former schools and bring a life of experience and spirit to the group. Many will volunteer to share their dreams and ambitions with other up and coming learners; their role is enormously valuable.
At the yearlong period, young people are required to develop unique projects that are relevant and can help solve community problems. Those deemed very sustainable and unique are supported to the next level by connecting to sponsors and market in the case of business projects. However, the main objective is help identify passion, creativity and commitment to becoming a social entrepreneur and GUiDE Mentors. The model works for form one up to form four levels. At the senior class, the young guide graduate are trained on handling the junior class in a bid to horn their skills in mentoring and serving others. After form four level, that is when young leaders/mentors
The Model
This innovation leverages the availability, uniqueness and willingness of the local professionals, school alumni and the teachers in linking youth to mentorship opportunities on the areas of personal development, talent development, career opportunities appraisal, professional profile creation and innovative and creative social projects creation. With a population of about 50 million Kenyans, and 43% of them being youth in high school, it makes much sense to strategically and disruptively optimize a well-structured program in realizing a sustainable solution to the youth question of holistic development and improvement of their lives and that of their communities. They will be told of unlimited possibilities, their immense potentials and numerous opportunities in and after school.
The learners, operating under GUiDE Clubs, will be assigned mentors from among their peer alumni, teachers and other professional resources persons in the community who will work closely with each as a support network to provide structured mentorship. Unique talents as well as learners facing challenges in determining their passions and career choices or in cross paths, are identified and nurtured throughout. Experienced mentors will be in charge of school resource centers in partner schools, which will be used for both GUiDE club activities and other support programs. They also work to identify young learners facing difficulty in their education journey.
