What is Youth Alive! Kenya

Youth Alive! Kenya is an independent national youth-led non-governmental organisation committed to the empowerment of young people in Kenya to take active responsibility for their lives to shape their destiny.

What is Youth Alive! Kenya missions and vision

Youth Alive! Kenya has a vision of a free, just and equitable world where young people are able to translate their aspirations and potential into productive and fulfilling life. To this end, our mission is to provide a platform where young people and their communities share skills and explore innate abilities towards lasting development. As specialists in the fronts of health and social justice, we work to facilitate learning and innovation through partnerships, advocacy, social research and public education.

What is the Youth Alive! Kenya Governance and Management structure

Youth Alive! Kenya as a membership organisation is open to all people as ascribed in the Youth Alive! Kenya Constitution. The organisation is managed by two executive organs – the Executive Board & the Secretariat. 

The Executive Board as the governing organ of Youth Alive! Kenya is elected by the membership and is responsible for all activities of Youth Alive Kenya. The Board makes executive decisions regarding the operations of the organisation. The Board currently comprises seven young professionals drawn from diverse backgrounds. The Executive Board members are each responsible for a development component of Youth Alive! Kenya namely: Institutional Governance; Leadership Development; Financial Sustainability and Self-reliance; Programme Development, and; Partnerships & Alliance Building. 

The Secretariat comprises the working office and handles the day-to-day operations of the organisation. It is composed of a multi-disciplinary meritocratic team of professionals drawn from Youth Alive! Kenya membership with a median age of 23 years and is currently a three-tier structure of Programmes, Research & Development Department, and Finance & Administration. The Departments are supported by qualified staff and periodic interns and volunteers. 

Why does Youth Alive! Kenya work with young people

Youth Alive! Kenya's work with young people is on the the belief that empowerment and participation of thsi constituency in national development is critical to the progressive development of any nation. Participation of young people in development processes allows for the  harnessing of human potential that is always untapped. It is alos common knowledge that in many African countries and in Kenya in particular, the involvement of young people in civic, socio-economic and other development processes has always been peripheral being more of beneficiaries than key agents for change.  It is against this background that Youth Alive! Kenya seeks to provide the necessary platform for young people to claim their rightful place in community leadership and decision-making in development.

When, why and how was Youth Alive! Kenya established?

Youth Alive! Kenya was founded in late 1998 and registered as a community-based organisation in 1999 then a national NGO in December 2003, with an interest to breaking the persistent exclusion of young people in the renaissance of Africa and to bring to light the plight of young people in Kenya, the idea of Youth Alive! Kenya evolved out of a set of informal discussions among various young persons at that time students in local universities of Kenya. The discussions focused on the plight of the young people in the present Kenya and revolved around three critical issues: the persistent disregard of young people as mere objects, targets and beneficiaries of interventions and programmes rather an untapped resource, active partners and players in national and regional development; the potential threat of young people entering the preparatory stages of adulthood without gainful livelihoods and growing up without any meaningful perspective for their future vis-à-vis the benefits if young these people entered their adulthood with the freedom and knowledge to contribute to development, and; what young people in other African countries were doing to alleviate the unfavourable conditions they found themselves in.

How can I help Youth Alive! Kenya?

You can support the work of Youth Alive! Kenya in many ways, either through donations by volunteering material, financial or tecchnical services. Click here to find how you can help

How do I know of when Youth Alive! Kenya is having Youth activities?

Information on upcoming events at Youth Alive! Kenya are posted online before the actual event and emailed to Youth Alive! Kenya members. Keep checking the site for any upcoming events. Click here to apply online

How does Youth Alive! Kenya support its activities?

Youth Alive! Kenya receives support from conventional donors both at the local and international level. We also receive support from individuals across the world through our Friendship initiative, Friends of YAK. We also get funds and other forms of support from private foundations in Kenya and abroad. Youth Alive! Kenya also receives finacial and technical support from a variety of international NGOs working with children and youth. We also generate income by providing consultancy and technical support services to individuals and organisations who need the.

How are funds utilised at Youth Alive! Kenya?

Transparency and accountability mark the two key words with regards to management of financial and other resources of Youth Alive! Kenya. Funds coming into Youth Alive! Kenya and expended according to the wishes of the sponsor and strictly for the purposes that the funds are remitted. Youth Alive! Kenya also ensure continuous review of our internal operating systems to improve efficiency in the utilisation of funds. An independent financial audit is conducted at the completionof nay project and annually in line with the requirements for NGOs in Kenya. The accounts are open for viewing and are availed for viewing for sponsors and members. Plans are currently underway to post the Fund Accountability Statements online.

How can I partner with Youth Alive! Kenya?

Youth Alive!Kenya beleives no single organisation or individual can address all issues facing young people. We therefore believe in partnering with like minded institutions and individuals in as afa as our common objective permit. Youth Alive! Kenya is currently partnering with a number of organisations and individuals locally and internationally. Check out our partners and how you can become a partner of Youth Alive! Kenya.

How can I find career opportunities at Youth Alive! Kenya?

Youth Alive! Kenya will post career opportunities as they arise on the jobs section of this website, with our partners and in the local dailies in Kenya.

How can I get specific information about Youth Alive! Kenya?

Youth Alive! Kenya will avail pertinent information to the general public on a regular basis. Enquiries on specific issues can be directed to the organisation by emailing info@youthalivekenya.org .