Ngong Road Children Association (NRCA) contracted with Success Signature to facilitate the Life Skills Training Program (LSTP) made possible by a Rotary Global Grant led by the South Metro Minneapolis Evenings (SMME) Rotary Club and the Kikuyu Rotary Club of Kenya. The aim of LSTP is to develop self-awareness in both secondary and post-secondary students by training them on carefully selected and essential skills that will aid in their life success. The training curriculum was developed by US volunteers Meghan and Evan Feige and tested in Kenya in early 2017 with December 2016 Form 4 finishers (high school graduates).
The first phase of training was officially launched on November 8th, 2018 at the Lutheran Church, Ngong Road and lasted three weeks. In attendance were 94 students from Form 2 through Form 4, 2017 (grades 10 through 12), NRCA staff, parents/guardians representatives, Rotary Club of Kikuyu representatives and Success Signature (SS) staff. Bus fare and meals were provided to all students to ensure they could attend.
The launch brought all the stakeholders together for the introduction to the program. NRCA staff provided the background of the LSTP and the intended benefits to the students. Students got a chance to meet the facilitators, while Success Signature staff provided an overview of the program including the topics, timetable, expectations, rules, and regulations governing the program, and completion of pre-training evaluation of each student.
The Lutheran Church, Ngong Road is located next to the NRCA offices and was both convenient and adequate in terms of space and facilities. The training program ran daily from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The following topics were covered with all three Forms: communication, conflict management, critical thinking, stress management, leadership, emotional intelligence, personality type, Who Am I? (personal branding), essential skills- time management, money management, study skills, and technology.
Both NRCA and SS staff were clear about the level of discipline needed from all the students and this yielded great results. Students were encouraged to participate by awarding the three most valuable, active students each day. Each student was given a token of Kes. 200 (USD $2) by the facilitator. This worked miraculously well and created very healthy competition and a lot of fun. Students were also always reminded to respect everybody’s contribution while learning. Learning was fun for all.
At the end of each day the facilitators would always ask students to speak out feedback based on these questions:
- What three things did you learn today?
- How will you apply them in your life beginning today?
Forms 2 and 3 offered written feedback by completing a simple questionnaire. All the feedback per Form was collated and consolidated and the results are good. Quotes from the students:
- “This program has really benefited me as I have a better understanding of WHO I AM and hope it will continue to benefit more students.
- “When angry, I conflicted with anyone I came across, blaming them yet I was the problem. I have now learnt to manage my emotions as well as understand other people’s emotions.”
- “I have been in conflict with my father since I did not like to be directed, after the conflict management training, I was able to approach my father and it is after a long time that we sat as a family and laughed together. I am very happy to be in a good relationship with my father”.
- “I spent a lot of time on social media and I will now use my time well and research constructive things”.
The success of the LSTP can be attributed to the development of the curriculum by Meghan and Evan, NRCA provision of bus fare and meals, adequate preparation by all the parties involved, effective teamwork, constant communication to review and ensure on track status and passion and commitment from all the parties.
We hope that our students are going to take full advantage of this opportunity.
A big thank you to Megan and Evan, Rotary International, FoNR and Success Signature for making the program possible.
Asante Sana,
Maureen Mulevi
Programme Director
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