On January 19, 2022, a team of peer counsellors from Siaya Institute of Technology visited The Sigalagala National Polytechnic for a benchmarking trip. The purpose of the trip was to gain insight and knowledge from the Sigalagala National Polytechnic peer counsellors on various topics related to youth such as drugs, relationships, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Upon arrival, the visiting team was greeted warmly by the Sigalagala National Polytechnic team and given a tour of the institution. The tour provided an opportunity for the visiting team to see firsthand the facilities and resources available to the peer counsellors at Sigalagala National Polytechnic.
After the tour, the teams engaged in a brief interactive session where they shared knowledge and experiences on different topics related to youth counseling. The Sigalagala National Polytechnic team shared their strategies on how they tackle issues related to drugs, relationships and STIs among the youth. They also discussed the challenges they face in their daily work and how they overcome them.
The Siaya Institute of Technology team was impressed by the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the Sigalagala National Polytechnic team and appreciated the insights they gained from the interactive session. They noted that the strategies used by the Sigalagala National Polytechnic team could be adapted and implemented in their own institution to enhance the quality of counseling services provided to the students.
In conclusion, the benchmarking trip was a great success for both teams as they were able to share knowledge and learn from each other’s experiences. The Siaya Institute of Technology team returned home with valuable insights and strategies that they could use to improve the counseling services provided to their students. The Sigalagala National Polytechnic team, on the other hand, was glad to have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences with their peers. Such benchmarking trips are crucial in ensuring that counseling services provided to students are of the highest quality.