NUPSA held a Peer Mentorship Forum on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the association’s
strategic pillars. This student-oriented activity aimed to actively impact about 150
participants from the student population at the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Before the activity, NUPSA organized a mobilization drive that involved students in networking
and fun activities on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the Waterfront Karen. This attracted 127 students
from the faculty who engaged in fun games and a social evening.
This was an opportunity for undergraduate pharmacy students to participate in peer discussions on
various topical issues including but not limited to mental health wellness, drugs and substance
abuse and safe sex practices (contraceptive use and unplanned pregnancies).
Panellists included:
1. Silvanus Manyala (O3 PLUS and RADA App Champion, Chairman - NUPSA), a highly motivated and
dedicated anti-drug and substance abuse champion who is passionate about promoting peer education to
improve the health and well-being of young people. He is a volunteer for O3 PLUS, a UNESCO project that
focuses on promoting health and well-being for young people in Kenyan universities and tertiary institutions.
He is also a RADA App Champion, a mobile application aimed to equip youths with the knowledge and skills
to deal with the lived reality of health.
2. Kendi Juma (Founder and Director of Busara Labs, Education Law and Policy Lawyer), a lawyer and the
Founder of Busara Leaders Lab, whose mission is to level the playing field for underserved youths in Sub-Saharan Africa by equipping them with tools and resources to achieve their highest potential. She is also
the Executive Assistant and Community Manager at Shamiri Institute. Kendi’s vision is to create a world where
youths from low-income communities have access to quality education and the tools and resources that help
them thrive and achieve economic mobility.
3. Felix Mburu (SRHR Advocate, Peer Educator and Volunteer at RESPEKT), a dedicated and dynamic youth
leader who is passionate about promoting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education among young
people. As a panellist, Felix brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to discussions on SRH issues. He is a
skilled communicator and is able to articulate complex ideas in a way that is easy for others to understand. His
passion for peer education is evident in his approach to advocacy, and he is committed to empowering young
people to take charge of their own sexual and reproductive health.
Additionally, we had a session on professional career talk where the students will undergo an
interactive mentorship session on “Professionalism and Personal Branding”. This was moderated by Dr. Libeya
Bethwel (Pharmacist, Digital Marketer, Founder - Hub Medical Supplies).
This event generally enhanced the college experience of students and promoted networking even as they aim to become
well-rounded professionals in future.
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