YOUTH PROGRAMME

The population of young people (age bracket 30yrs and below) constitutes about 36% of Kenyan population. Majority of the youth population live in the rural areas and are not actively engaged in productive activities. Despite their numbers, youth are least represented in local, regional and national socio-economic and political development processes because of the societal attitudes, socio-cultural and economic barriers and lack of proper organization. Youth segment forms the highest source of human capital. However, their status has been placed on the periphery and not accorded recognition. They have been excluded from designing, planning and implementing programs and policies that affect them. Youth have aspirations and want to participate fully in the lives of their society and are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. If youth are to be active members with a feeling of responsibility for a particular society, then the society should provide a social environment to allow these qualities to grow.

In this regard, Baraka Agricultural College initiated a youth programme to facilitate the rural youth to address issues affecting their lives. The programme aims at facilitating rural youth development through promotion of sustainable youth structures, promotion of processes that enhances holistic development of rural youth and improving their capacities to influence processes, institutions and policies that affect them as they actively participate in the development of their own communities. Implementation of the programme is guided by the following objectives;

• To promote the establishment of sustainable youth representative structures that facilitates holistic development of the rural youth.

• To facilitate the involvement of the rural youth in development process and activities that will enhance their desired wellbeing.

• To facilitate rural youth to identify and articulate issues of concern and improve their capacities to influence processes, institutions and policies that affect them.

The programme in partnership with the rural youth implements activities in the following thematic areas;

• Formation and development of youth structures
• Capacity building through education and training
• Socio-cultural issues
• Income generation
• Behavior change education
• HIV/AIDS awareness and community health
• Environmental conservation
• Advocacy
• Networking and linkages