Mentoring Children: With the Youths in Mind

This article is written by Guest Writer Steve – Head of Media at Home Of Transformation – H.O.T., Nairobi, Kenya.

I’m excited to introduce you to Steve; our new weekly KENYAN Guest Author.

Steve grew up as an adopted child (You can read his BIO at the base of this article) and knows firsthand what it is like to grow up without encouragement. 

He is set to change Kenya. To change Africa. To change the world.  

Please read this article he wrote exclusively for Exploramum.com.  

We have chosen to commit long-term to support Steve as he sets to mentor Kenyan youths and also as he seeks to establish a Kenyan Orphanage, and we hope you will join us with partnering with him in the future too. 

His wisdom, encouragement, and motivation are astounding.

Thanks, Steve!

People are gifted with different passions and talents. While some are passionate about music, others are more into painting or even tailoring.

Regardless of where the passion lies, success can always be achieved when a desire supersedes the words of critics.

It would mean that you do what you do, not because of what people think about you, but because you just love it and believe that you can make a change through it.

I will concentrate more on child mentorship since this is where my passion lies. Since Kenya is a youthful country, I have noticed so many concerns about the youths that need to be addressed. Some youths are into drugs, others are bullies in school and others have developed despicable immoral habits.

Sadly, these issues not only affect Kenyan youths; they also affect youths in most African countries and even the rest of the world.

There is an old saying that “you cannot teach old dog new tricks.”

What this means is that by the time a person grows old, he has already developed certain habits that are almost impossible to change.

In as much as there is always a possibility of people changing even in old age, there is no need for waiting till it is that late. It is for this reason that I find child mentorship worthwhile.

Think about this: A child grows up always knowing that he/she is worth more than being a bully.  Such a child would probably never be a bully due to such simple, recurrent words.

The same mindset would be developed by a child who is continuously told everything positive about him/herself.

As Kenyans, I will not say we have gotten it wrong: We have only missed the link.

There are no mentorship programs for children until they become youths. At such a stage, they have already developed a mindset about the government, personal relationships, career and even jobs.

Nothing changes their minds to think beyond their current situations.

This is an encouragement to every parent or guardian who has a child.

• Start mentoring your children from as early as possible.
• You can start by teaching them how to behave before guests, sit or even eat.
• As they grow up, it might advance to teaching them why they need to respect their elders, believe in their abilities to become great investors or inventors
• They will grow to understand that there is never a limit to success.

If you get the chance, visit a Rescue Center and be an encouragement to the children in such centers.

Most of these children have never experienced a genuine love that is mixed with positive comments regarding their self-worth.

I strongly believe that child mentorship is what will liberate every Kenyan youth from the current disturbing mindset formed about life. It might take longer, but when children finally grow into youths, the effect lives forever.

To every youth, it is important to know that you own the keys to morality. Youths often get into trouble as a result of peer pressure.

Why don’t each morally upright youth be the change that will transform how their peers look at life?

It begins with one person: a mentor, parent, guardian or youth.

You can be that person.

You are that person if you choose to be.

You can help change the world.

STEVE’s BIO – About me

“My life seemed perfect until the age of 11 when I realised that I was adopted!

Such a realisation became a battle for me since I had to secretly change my perspective about the people who surrounded me.  

I could even barely figure out what was right from wrong, since what I thought to be right was now being confirmed as wrong through the mouth of a stranger. 

By the age of 19 years, both my adoptive parents had died, and we had to re-adjust to the reality of facing the world without them.  They had been amazing and supportive people and I thank God for them. 

Something surprising about me is that I was never bold enough to speak up for myself during my early stages of life.  As a result, I took people’s insults and reproaches with no defence.  Anything nasty that was said about me became a part of me.

I was never the most outspoken kid on the block and got compared on numerous occasions to peers who people thought acted cooler than I did.  All these ‘reproaches’ and the ‘hate’ broke me into bits and for over 10 years, I cried secretly, no one ever understanding the reason behind my chronic gloom.

I thank God that regardless of the hard times He was there by my side, always encouraging me and telling me that I would one day be what everyone thought I would never amount to.

Today, my head is up high and I am seeking to uplift the spirit of every child or youth who has been made to believe less in him/herself.  Now I have been privileged to speak before students and children alike, something that seemed impossible before.

I bet it is the reason why my dreams of starting an orphanage and mentoring as many children and youths as possible have lingered on – despite financial hardships and discouragements.

 I feel like this is just the beginning of me.”

Hobbies: Walking in the park, Videography, Cycling       Passion: Mentorship

We are looking forward to Steve being a regular weekly author on Exploramum.com, and we hope he encourages you with his passion to help the youth of the world.

You can read his next article here: When people forget who they are.

NB: Any person captured in the photographs in this article do not represent anyone related to this story and are simply photographs taken randomly.

 

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