As part of Kibabii University’s commitment to community engagement and nurturing future media professionals, a group of journalism students recently conducted a mentorship session at Wamalwa Kijana Secondary School. This initiative aimed to equip high school students with essential journalism skills while giving university students the opportunity to practice leadership and mentorship. The program reflects the university’s dedication to empowering young storytellers and strengthening journalism at the grassroots level.
The team (Martin Mukhwana, Benard Mutua, Banice andanje, Koech Victor and Fadhili Nafula received a warm welcome from the school’s journalism club patron, who then introduced them to Mr. Wakoli, who facilitated the session. The interactive program lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes, during which the university students engaged directly with 16 members of the school’s journalism club. To encourage participation and hands-on learning, the students were divided into four smaller groups, each guided by a Kibabii University mentor. This setup allowed for personalized attention and closer interaction between mentors and mentees.
During the session, the mentors explored how the high school students were running their journalism club, focusing on how they presented their stories and gathered news. The university students provided constructive feedback, offering practical tips on improving news-gathering techniques and story presentation. One of the key lessons was centered on scriptwriting using the 5Ws and H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) approach. The mentors also demonstrated how to effectively position oneself during news presentations, emphasizing clarity, confidence, and engagement with the audience.
The session was designed to be interactive and skill-focused, ensuring that the high school students not only learned new concepts but also practiced them in real time. To reinforce the training, the mentors assigned a practical task: each student was asked to write a news script using the 5Ws and H approach. This assignment will be reviewed during the next visit, providing an opportunity for continuous learning and assessment. The mentors encouraged the students to think critically, be creative in their storytelling, and focus on accuracy and clarity in their reporting.
This mentorship program is part of Kibabii University’s broader mission to bridge the information gap in grassroots communities while fostering leadership and responsibility among its journalism students. By empowering young storytellers, the university is helping shape the future of media and communication in the region. The team looks forward to returning for future sessions, continuing this valuable exchange of knowledge and skills that uplifts and inspires the next generation of journalists.
