THERE was pomp and colours yesterday at Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Narok after 37 boys graduated after successfully undergoing the alternative rite of passage.

The Rite of Passage and Alternative Rite of Passage chairman Raphael Gichaga said the programme aims at producing an all round person who is well disciplined, upright, spiritual and self dependent.

"The programme undertaken once a year in December majorly targets standard eight graduates who intend to be transformed to another level in life academically, bodily and socially," said Gichaga.

He added that they started the programme 5 years ago and they have so far reach out to 162 initiates. "Some of whom we have had constant follow ups. They are totally different from those who were not given the same attention," said Gichanga.

Gichanga also said that the initiates were talked to by resource persons on various topics such as drug abuse, sex, HIV/AIDS, honesty and integrity. "We want to instill in the young minds the message that despite our diverse backgrounds we can coexist together," he said.

The program's secretary Peter Kingori noted that the initiates will have a different outlook of the community. "They have been taught to appreciate the spirit of team work, hard work, commitment and trustworthiness," said Kingori.