by Louis Kariuki and Evans Ijakaa There is a recurring mistake we make when talking about young people: we describe them as the future, disregarding the fact that they are  already shaping the present. That tension was hard to ignore during the recent capacity-building workshop in Kwale County, Kenya, convened around youth well-being, SDG localisation, …

Beyond Consultation: Youth Agency, Urban Futures from Ambition to Reality Read More »

by Joyce Wachau Chege The community is paying the price every day. For a town so small that everyone knows everyone, news travels fast whenever tragedy strikes. For a town bustling with so much energy and life, it has a tendency of growing on you. The allure is definitely there and one cannot help but …

How Illicit Brews Are Destroying a Generation in Gatunyu Read More »

by Joyce Wachau Chege Yesterday was June 25. It was just a few hours ago, I keep telling myself, over and over and over again. In the bus on my way to work, I watch as life goes by, as if nothing had happened. By the time I alight, two work bags well balanced on …

When Womanhood becomes a Battlefield and a Crime Read More »

by Evans Ijakaa Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, is a place where hope and hardship coexist. Home to over 250,000 residents, it is also home to something else: over 500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). With so many NGOs operating in such a small area, one would assume Kibera’s issues—poverty, unemployment, lack of education, gender-based violence …

Kibera: Where NGOs Thrive While People Survive Read More »

Fines and incarceration are the most common punishments for crimes in most societies. Whether it is a multimillion-dollar fine or many years in prison, these types of punishment rarely address the needs of the victims and affected communities. Sana Hussein, a 27-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya, explores how restorative justice works and argues that it …

Why settle for imprisoning criminals to punish them? Read More »

Do you ever think about securing your financial future or the long-term management of your assets? In an era where young people are working to create generational wealth  Sana Hussein, a  27-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya discusses the benefits of using a trust to manage your assets and generational wealth. Photo Credits: Canva About Sana …

Financial Security: Why You Need a Trust Read More »

As the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, Education is among the top priorities for and key indicators of global development. But even as we celebrate how far we have come, there are still so many more shortcomings to address in order to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. With this in …

The Unequal Learning Environment Read More »

When the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network realised that young people who speak Kiswahili could not access a historic international policy document to guide grassroots peace and security efforts, they decided to do something about it. Promise Forsuh, a 23-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Cameroon tells us why they took action and how they are making …

Young peace-builders break language barrier Read More »