Elimika and Wajibu Wetu, the two youth programmes being implemented by the UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in the University of Nairobi will soon be rebranded into “Elimika Wajibika-Vijana Amkeni.”
“There is need to rebrand Elimika and Wajibu Wetu into one formidable and inclusive Programme. This rebranding will connect three circles of knowledge that is the University of Nairobi, Elimika and Wajibu Wetu,” said the UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair, Prof. Judith Bahemuka. “The youth programme is centered on facilitating young people’s active participation and engagement with systems, technologies, institutions and governments, towards finding space for expression and growth.”
Prof. Bahemuka was speaking at the Mid Term Review workshop that was held on May 17, 2019 at UoN. At the session, the youth programme team presented their research findings to key stakeholders on the youth understanding of development issues and their ability to apply the Constitution, policies, laws, rules and standards in their daily livelihoods. The key stakeholders included youth leaders, representatives from the national government, Nairobi and Makueni counties and various institutions of higher learning including UoN and University of Eldoret. Ford Foundation, Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM) and Kenya Human Rights Institute were also in attendance.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, the acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Human Resource and Administration, Prof. Stephen Kiama said that the young people are an essential component in the realization of national development goals but they have regrettably been relegated to the backburners and are at the periphery of major decision making processes.
“Knowledge is critical if the youth are to harness the opportunities provided for by the Constitution,” said Prof. Kiama. “However, the level of knowledge on the Constitution among the youth is wanting. The University is thus playing its role to refine these issues and gaps in relation to the youth, through instilling critical thinking, theorizing and interrogating skills and knowledge that can enable them to transform their communities.”
The Youth Programme team made presentations on the emerging trends and issues that the youth brought to the fore and how the programme can capture these to create a better youth agencies for governance and leadership. The youth programme will create youth innovation hubs which will be based on the youth’s need for knowledge development through information and technical knowhow. The team presented interesting research findings on the youth from Nairobi, Makueni and Kwale.