Initiative to uplift 20,000 boys in two years launched

The Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) yesterday launched an initiative to promote and uplift the boy child.

KCDF board chairperson Atia Yahya said a lot of focus had been given to the girl child and boys had been forgotten.

"We forget to balance things. We have girl on one side, who is over-confident and sometimes reckless, while on the other there is boy who has completely lost it. We need to re-examine the issue," said Yahya at the launch at a Nairobi hotel yesterday.

The initiative dubbed 'Mentenda' aims to reach 20,000 boys aged between 14 and 25 years in 20 to 45 schools countrywide within the next two years. It will be rolled out next year through inter-generational mentorship and transfer of valuable skills.

KCDF Chief Executive Officer Janet Mawiyoo said the problems boys faced needed an immediate response.

"This initiative is a positive action meant to address the growing challenges the boy child has faced for a while as a result of lack of mentorship and getting into drugs among other concerns," said Ms Mawiyoo.

It is sponsored by KCDF, The Standard Group, Transform Kenya Awards, Transform Nations, I&M Bank Limited, Victoria Commercial Bank and National Industrial Credit Bank Limited among others.

Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei appreciated the timely launch of the programme, saying there was rising concern over continued neglect of the boy child as attention was focused on girls.

"We see women groups and activists coming together with various projects aimed at helping girls unshackle the chains keeping them down. The boys have generally been left behind," said Mr Shollei. "If we are not careful, we will see men lose their sense of relevance and no longer feel their contribution to society," he warned.

KCDF is a Kenyan development grant organisation that supports communities to initiate and drive their development agenda by harnessing and growing their resources.