Why I Struggled to Celebrate International Youth Day this Year?

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If you have interacted with me in person or through digital platforms you know I am an avid advocate of issues affecting adolescents, youth and women. 

Any efforts going into these cause I will cheer on with my heart and soul. This year I felt challenged or rather constrained to celebrate International Youth Day (IYD) a day I have celebrated for a decade now.

Life Threw Me Lemons; Lived on The Streets, Had Life Threatening Asthma and Degenerative Eye Problem But Now I am Having My Lemonade – Benson Kiragu

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“My life has been a roller coaster of unforeseen and unprecedented events, but I am proud of whom I have become.” Benson Kiragu outlines as he begins to narrate his story.

I was raised by my grandparents with my two siblings in Uasin Gishu county, Kenya. The year of my birth is unknown to me, but I settled for 1985 when I was applying for a birth certificate.

The year 1992 marked the beginning of a dark phase in my life. The tribal clashes associated with the general election rocked my life and that of my family. Despite us having a home my grandparents were squatters. When the clashes began our home was torched and we had to run for our lives. 

Truth About Being a Young Adolescent

I am an angry and mad teenager. I believe I have a right to be angry and annoyed. Angry at everyone in my space. This includes me. I know being a teenager is being between the ages of 13 to 18. That it is supposed to be exciting and fun at the same time. 

It is a stage of me turning into an adult where I’m expected to make mature decisions that will determine whether my future is bright or doomed. Why am I angry again? I’m angry because I have a million things crisscrossing my small mind but with a few options of who to turn to that wouldn’t judge me. The adults are supposed to understand me. My peers are supposed to love and accept me and I am expected to fully understand myself. And yet none of these people understand me. I don’t even understand me. So I’m mad!

A Stalling Career and Broken Relationship Pushed me to Depression – Kaka Tim

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Nairobi has always been the proverbial land of greener pastures. To seek these greener pastures Kaka Tim came to Nairobi with high spirits and there is nothing he looks forward to like financial freedom. Before getting on his feet, a kind cousin offered to host him.

“My career took longer to pick up, but I remained optimistic.” Kaka Tim explains. He caught a break and got a writing engagement where the payment was based on several words. Tim worked so hard and was able to get a decent income monthly. This at the time was adequate to cater for his monthly bills.

Is It For God's Glory?

Courtesy:icl.org

The morality debate is currently trending and has been trending for some months now in the country. All of us have our own definitions and perception when it comes to differentiating and understanding what is really right and wrong. We can defend and justify our actions and behaviors to others with all the energy in us. 

Today’s society has an added advantage compared to the society in the seventies and eighties. Technology has opened our eyes and ears to the world. People are more open-minded to a lot of things from relationships to accepting and embracing other people’s cultures. 

My Two Cents On Youth Training Programs Part One

Courtesy: SchoolMattaz

According to Wikipedia, Youth Empowerment is a process where children and young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situations and taking action to improve their resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values, and attitudes.

There have been lots of talks on ways to empower or what youths can do to be empowered. This is good because youths are challenged to be open-minded, courageous, and ready to see and grab opportunities.