CES Canada-Kenya Essay Competition
Youth
have a powerful voice to share and a pivotal role to play
in shaping a better world
Fact:
85% of all the world’s youth live in developing countries
Are we listening?
Fact:
62% of Kenyans are under 25 years of age
Are we learning?
Fact:
25% of Kakamega’s population are 15-19 years of age; and,
50% of its youth will not achieve the KCSE diploma
Are we engaging?
CES Canada is listening, learning and engaging Kenyan youth
CES Canada – Kenya 2011 Essay Competition.
CES Kenya students have something to say!
200 senior students in 16 CES sponsored secondary schools participated in an essay competition on issues that concern them the most. Topics included HIV/Aids Education, Girl Child Education, and issues of Justice, Freedom and Human Rights. The following quotes show the caliber of writing and the passion to which the issues are addressed. To read these powerful award winning essays visit www.cescan.ca and click on Publications.
The essay awards ceremony is planned this summer during the visit of CES Volunteers from Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Quotes:
Sheilah Khakuma – Form 3 at Musaga SS
From Bitter Roots for Girls in Education
“As a CES supported girl, I want to work extremely hard. I want to challenge the idea of girls being physically weak, psychologically inferior and academically lame just because of gender. I am determined to try the subjects taken by boys and beat them at their own game. I sincerely write to inspire my fellow girls. I put my pen against this paper to encourage, provoke and challenge the historic mentality of girls. I say categorically that where that there is a will there is a way, and that girls stand equal to boys for opportunities of academic success.
Arise, oh girls! Arise and shine, for dawn has passed and morning has come. From all of us, let us get CES Kenya board members focussed and ready to address gender issues to bring to light the woes of the girl students. Arise, oh arise!”
Sophie Were – Form 4 at Namirama Girls’ High School
From Grievance of the Girl Child in Secondary School
“Our society should understand that it is important to educate the girl child as well as the boy child, for their education is equally important. There’s a need to understand that a woman is like a teabag, only in hot water does one realise how strong she is. A girl child should be encouraged in order to acquire the right quality of education. That is the only tool we can use against poverty. The government should support the girl child’s education by giving grants to government schools and take full control by providing total school fees for the less fortunate students. By so doing, we shall enlighten our society and bring them to the awareness that “education is what survives when what has been learnt is forgotten.”
Nathan Muyumba – Form 4 at Samitsi SS
From HIV/Aids Education
“HIV and AIDS education consists of knowledge, skills and attitudes meant to assist the students to develop and adopt behaviour that will prevent them from being infected with this virus. It will also equip them with the necessary skills to pass on HIV/AIDS information to others. In turn, this will help them prevent HIV/AIDS and control its spread.
There is no doubt that HIV and AIDS will have far-reaching effects on education systems in Kenya, the continent of Africa, indeed the whole world. This is evidenced by the loss of skilled personnel. The chance to provide quality education services will be affected through the illness and death of teachers and inability of families to support their children in schools.
It is against this background that teachers and students together have a major role to play in preventing the spread and suffering caused by HIV and AIDS disease not only in the institutions but also in the neighbouring community and the nation at large.”
What is Your Response?
Send your comment to asante@cescan.ca
May, 2011
