FOURTH COHORT OF PEER COUNSELLORS GRADUATE
Turkana University College held a graduation ceremony for skilled peer counsellors. This was the fourth cohort since the programme was started in 2021. The ceremony was held after the peer counsellors had successfully fulfilled the requirements of 42 hours of Basic Counselling Skill I & II trainings. They were also taken through five (5) hours of personal Therapy. The training was held between the 25thJanuary and 3rd February to 31st March 2023.
While launching the program, the Turkana University College Principal (Prof. George Chemining’wa) encouraged students on healthy relationships and emphasized on the importance of psychological support for mental health. As the Patron of the skilled peer counsellors’, he promised to continue supporting capacity building among learners in knowledge and skills.
During the training, the students were taken though ethical issues, introduction to guidance and counselling, self – awareness, ethics, behavior change and therapy amongst other contemporary issues in counselling.
The Deputy Principal Academics and Students Affairs (Prof Dr. Fredrick N. Kassilly) who was present during the graduation ceremony took time to encourage the students. He emphasized the virtue of patience toward goals in life. He also emphasized on the importance of going out of one’s way to share their troubles with a peer and a qualified counsellor so that they can get help. Mr. Mwai M. Kiragu (Senior Assistant Students Counsellor) who was the lead trainer during the peer counsellors’ IV training program led the peer counsellors in taking the Oath of a counsellor to perform their duties especially within their competence and holding confidentiality.
Trained Students take the Oath of a counsellor
The Deputy Principal Administration Finance & Planning awarded the Skilled Peer Counsellors certificates on behalf of the principal in recognition of the skills acquired and commissioned them in giving psychosocial support and referrals of fellow students.
The Deputy Principal Administration Finance & Planning (Prof. George Muthaa) awarding the certificate to Ms. Magdalene Wanjiku as qualified skilled peer counsellor