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Champion spotlight

 As we continue to feature our youth volunteers and highlight the incredible contributions they continue to make in the community, take a look at some of our youth champions featured in the previous weeks.

WANJIRU MBUGUA



Background and passion

Wanjiru has an academic background in Gender and Development Studies and Project Management. She is an avid believer in humanity and passionate about matters social justice and inclusion, youth advocacy and governance, human rights, inclusive education, gender equality and development agenda.

Leadership

She is currently a Programs Coordinator at The Action Foundation, an award-winning youth-led NGO that works with communities, organizations, local and international bodies to end exclusion, discrimination and violence against children, women and girls with disabilities in marginalized areas. Mbugua has previously been a lead trainer for USAID-funded Kenya Youth Employment and Skills (K-YES) project with Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International. Wanjiru joined YSD because she is passionate about promoting youth agency. “I am a proud member and it gives me joy to be part of a vibrant team of transformational leaders”, she says.

Aspiration

Her aspiration is to be a policy shaper in the global arena of the development world. Her message for the youth is “You matter and you are enough. Act now and shape your world”


JAMES KARONGO KURIA



Background

James holds a degree in Gender and Development Studies from Egerton University and a Diploma in Community Development and Social Work from Mount Kenya University. He is currently a Program Officer supporting Adolescent and Youth Programming at LVCT Health. James is a master trainer in peer-centred approaches with a focus on priority and key populations.

Passion

James has a huge passion for implementing activities targeting adolescents and young people with a major focus on building their capacity through mentorship programs, life skills sessions and behaviour change communication activities aimed at preventing new HIV infections and reducing teenage pregnancies. He is currently focusing on advocacy while utilizing digital platforms since it’s the new normal.

Achievements

James has been able to train over 2000 young people across the country on peer education. He was also part of the team that put together SHUGA 1&2 manual for implementing partners to be utilized for conducting activities in the community. He has also mentored over 100 adolescent and young people in Nairobi and Kiambu counties in advocacy skills, SRHR, HIV and mental health. James sits in several technical working groups at the national and county levels focusing on Adolescent Health. In addition, he has supported over 100 adolescents with disabilities in Nairobi county to access life skills training, food support and menstrual Hygiene Management information through different projects.

Motivation to join YSD

Mr. Karongo believes in the power of youth movements and therefore saw YSD as a good platform for young people to harness their energy in reaching more young people. He mentions his journey so far as being good as he has been able to interact with fellow youth leaders from different parts of Nairobi and participate in activities that have really enhanced his capacity especially in social accountability.

Aspirations

He aspires to be a Development and Communication Specialist with a particular focus on behaviour change communication programs for the adolescents and young people.

Message for youth

“We need to be engaged meaningfully in matters that affect us. We also need to ensure that we bring our voices on the table together with the policy-makers for us to achieve the change that we desire”, he says.  He quotes Albert Einstein by saying “the world is a dangerous place not because people are bad but because the good people do nothing.” James calls on the good young people to do something to make this world a better place.


TABITHA MWAI



Background

Tabitha is an Author, content creator, life coach, youth advocate and Community Development practitioner

Passion and interests

She is passionate about transformation and development and believes in helping people find their spice for them to live powerfully the life that they want.

Leadership and key achievements

Tabitha is the founder of Decent Conversations Foundation, an organization dealing with SRHR, Mental Health, Life Skills and relationship. She is also the Founder of Digital Scroll Media, a Publishing, Public Relations and Content Development firm.

Motivation for joining YSD

“Being a youth I believe in being a voice of reason and having a seat in the decision making table if we are to make a difference. YSD provides a chance for youth to be active citizens as we empower others which strikes a chord with me.”

Aspirations

Tabitha aspires to transform the lives of women and youth one life at a time through her work that is training, coaching, writing and audio-visual content.

Message to the youth

“We are not leaders of tomorrow because as you know there is tomorrow elsewhere and all we have is now. Let's make the best of what we have and do what we can to have lasting impact for generations to come.”


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