By Mathews Achola Bulimo
As schools break for Christmas holiday, parents and guardians have been urged to ensure that their children are not exposed much on social media as it may redirect their focus and expose young girls to online predators.
Speaking to students drawn from Bungoma County for a life skills talk, Tracyter Mutala, a youth advocate and mentor in the county revealed that many negative activities that youths are engaging in like school unrests are as a result of much exposure to social media.
She pointed out that during the holiday learners should be fully engaged in activities that makes them busy and channel their energy to positive skills that will nurture talents to promote the society.
“Many students engage in evil activities because they lack good guidance from their parents and guardians, some parents have neglected their children and some have been turned into hawkers in big towns thus risking the life of a girl child,” she said.
In her appeal, she asked churches, NG- CDF offices and other organizations to prioritize on engaging students in events like tournaments to ensure their energy is used and to also maintain their fitness.
“During this holiday, young people should be fully engaged in activities that will keep them busy to avoid being trapped into activities that will not benefit them if they idle on social media,” she said, adding that nowadays people have turned social media into a platform to get husbands and wives something that has ruined the life of many young people.
Mrs. Mutala also urged the community to empower both genders and ensure that they feel accepted by the community.
“Many families have embarked on empowering girl children, leaving the boy vulnerable. Both genders are important and should be engaged and advised accordingly,” she noted.
She urged schools to strengthen guidance and counseling to ensure that a firm foundation is built.
Her sentiments were echoed by Mrs. Maxmillah Okello a Children Rights Activist in Bungoma County.
