Progress rarely announces itself dramatically. Often, it looks like a group of young people gathering around a briquette press, or a young woman standing up to speak at a community forum for the very first time. At Kijiweni Uplift Youth CBO, these quiet, powerful moments are happening every day — and they are changing lives.
Here are two stories from the heart of our community.
♻️ Story One: The Day Waste Became Worth Something
It started with a simple but radical idea: what if the rubbish piling up in our community could be turned into clean fuel — and into income?
Through our Climate Action & Green Energy program, we launched the Coko Burn Briquette Production project, transforming waste materials into high-quality, eco-friendly fuel briquettes. For young participants, it wasn’t just an environmental initiative — it was a livelihood, a skill, and a source of pride.
The results have been remarkable. Youth who once struggled to find meaningful work are now producing and selling briquettes, reducing pollution in the process. But perhaps most encouraging is how far the project’s influence has spread.
Kijiweni has welcomed more than five Community Based Organizations from across Mombasa County — all coming to learn, observe, and replicate what we have built. These visits, made possible through the Blue Economy Waste Entrepreneurs Skills Program by TechnoServe, have turned our community into a regional hub for green entrepreneurship and sustainable energy innovation.
What began as a local solution is now a model for others. And that is what community-led change looks like.
🤝 Story Two: When Safe Spaces Change Everything
For too many young women and girls, silence feels like the only option. Silence about violence. Silence about inequality. Silence about experiences that no one should have to carry alone.
Breaking that silence is at the heart of Gumzo Kijiweni — our monthly community dialogue initiative — and it is work we take seriously.
Through regular public barazas, mentorship sessions, and civic education forums, we have been building a culture where young women feel safe to speak, to question, and to demand better. The results are tangible: more awareness, more open conversations, and more young people who know their rights and how to protect them.
This work reached a significant milestone in November 2025, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Community members, youth, and Beauty Hub trainees gathered for a powerful day of dialogue — discussing prevention, reporting pathways, and the importance of supporting survivors. The energy in the room was electric. The conversations were honest. And when it was over, participants left not with fear, but with knowledge, confidence, and a community standing behind them.
Because when we create safe spaces, we create the conditions for people to rise.
Both of these stories share a common thread: community members who were given the right environment, tools, and support — and who used them to transform their own lives and the lives of those around them.
This is the work we do every day. And we’re just getting started.
