MKU students to be enrolled in the United Nations volunteers programme

Mount Kenya University students are set benefit from a range of volunteering opportunities at various United Nations offices in the country.

This follows an agreement reached between the Mount Kenya University and the United Nations (UN) University Volunteers programme seeking to offer opportunities to selected students.

Acknowledging that many youths in the country are jobless, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, Olivier Adam, said the initiative will give university students enough exposure and experience in the global job market.

Adam said those who will be enrolled in the programme, will have a higher stake of getting UN job offers once they complete their studies.

“As we formalize this new partnership, I am proud to say that MKU will become outstanding in other respects. MKU will be the first university in Africa to directly deploy its students as United Nations University Volunteers within the UN system,” said Adam.

MKU’s council vice chairman Dr. Vincent Gichuru Gaitho said the agreement comes at a time when the Kenyan job market is facing a myriad of challenges.

“This will give the students an advantage and experience that will assist them to later on get jobs or further their career,” said Gaitho.

This is the first UN University Volunteer agreement in Kenya and in the East and Southern African region.

Selected number of Mount Kenya University students will be deployed annually- for up to six months in various UN agencies in Kenya as UN University Volunteers to apply their knowledge and skills in several areas of UN peace and development work