Over 100 youths from Bomet County graduated after undergoing training in a personal development empowerment programme, courtesy of the International Youth Fellowship (IYF) NGO, in partnership with the County Government, in a remarkable Free Weekend Academic event celebrated at the Centre for Devolved Governance (CDG), Bomet.
The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of an intensive empowerment programme designed to nurture leadership, foster personal development, and inspire community service among the youth across the genders.
Through this initiative, participants were equipped with practical life skills and a renewed sense of purpose, in a move aimed at positioning them as catalysts for positive change within their communities.
Speaking at the event, Assistant Director at the IYF Bomet Centre Stephen Kalungu underscored the critical role of youth in societal transformation, hence the need to have them actively and fully involved in the economic, social and political activities.
“Our mission therefore is to nurture responsible and visionary young leaders who will drive positive change in our communities, which calls for us to equip them with the requisite skills and mentor them to participate in leadership and national development accordingly,” he stated.
Among the graduates was Delphine Chepto, who shared her transformative journey through the programme: “The academy has changed how I view leadership and my role in the community. I now feel more empowered to make a difference in changing our society for the better,” she said.
The event drew the attention of several local leaders including, a representative from Bomet County Government, Justus Maina, who hailed the initiative as paramount in fostering youth inclusion in national development.
“Programmes like these are vital in addressing youth unemployment, promoting social cohesion, and building a generation of proactive citizens, necessary for government’s Bottom-up economic development agenda,” he noted.
With the IYF’s Free Weekend Academy continuing to serve as a beacon of hope and growth for young people across Kenya, Kalungu stressed that the Bomet Centre, being one of the vibrant training hubs remains committed to fostering the potential in Kenyan youth and empowering them to build a brighter, more unified future.
He urged the youth in the country to explore such training opportunities to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to not only help them eke a living but also participate in national development and general societal well-being.
By Dorcas Nyambura
