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Impact of the Youth and Adolescents Open Day By Richard Korgoren It was on Saturday 6th October 2018, the youth from various colleges and universities converged at Outspan Medical College grounds for the Youths and Adolescence Open Day. The theme was "JITAMBUE, JIKUBALI". Various speakers including our guest of the day Mr. Tatende Chikwekwe, speak to the youth on the topic Identity and Acceptance in line with our theme for this year's event. The speeches are followed by a Mental Health Awareness Walk from the OMC grounds to Nyamachaki. It has been a long time since I walked such a long distance by foot. We walk along all the way to Nyeri town. By the time we reach the centre of the town, I developed signs of Hypoglycemia and had to pull myself aside to buy an orange. The other procession proceeds as I remain aside. Now there were two gentlemen who were trailing way behind. These were students from a certain university. They come over and greet me. They introduce themselves and I do the same. One of them narrated his story; "This is my 6th year in campus. I have taken 2 more years because I was feeling lost ". I am feeling relieved today". He went on to explain to me the whole of his life and what he has been harbouring inside. "We are taught not to face our demons. Everyone around us runs away from theirs so our first instinct is to do the same with ours because people learn from what they see. It has taken me about a decade to face myself". He concluded. The rest of the story will be concealed for confidentiality reasons. My recommendation is: The youth are facing deep rooted issues and they have no one to share with. That Saturday forum was a one day event in a year but it saved a soul. I highly recommend such events be organized every trimester instead of on once in a year. Richard Korgoren |
