Eight graduate from NGEC’s Mentorship program

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has called on all government institutions to offer internship opportunities  to students and graduates in a bid to shape and furnish them with the experience needed to conquer the job market.

Speaking during this year’s annual mentorship graduation programme run by NGEC and partly sponsored by the Ford Foundation, NGEC Chairperson Winfred Lichuma cited internship as a way of including the youth, one of the NGEC’s target groups, in governments roll out plans.

“Gone are the days when you could leave the university and find a job vacancy waiting for you. The saturation in the job market calls for career mentorship which is one way of shaping the youth to beat competition,” Said Lichuma.

She added that this is a way of supporting the youth get a base where those who don’t fall in white collar jobs have capital to begin small businesses, a move that would minimize unemployment rate in the country.

In his remarks, Regional Ford Foundation Coordinator Maurice Makoloo told the graduates who have completed the one year internship that they now qualify to confidently walk into any office and seek for a job.

“If you look at all vacancies in the papers ,you find it’s a fundamental requirement to have some experience but now you have at least one year experience to tackle the job you have trained for ,” Said Makoloo .

Former Kenyatta University Dean of Students  Linda Musumba lauded  the initiative and called on  government organizations to absorb at least ten interns per annual year and will boost the lives of the youth and a good move to eradicate poverty.

Every year, NGEC advertises on the website a list of internship opportunities. 

Photo: NGEC Chairperson Winfred Lichuma with one of the graduands,Ms Abigael Munala

Eight graduate from NGEC’s Mentorship programme