Last week, the Kijiweni Uplift Youth Organisation team travelled to Nairobi to take part in AfricaXchange, one of Africa’s most vibrant platforms for youth-led social innovation, cross-sector partnerships and community-driven development. It was an experience that reminded us why we do what we do.
From the moment we arrived, the energy was palpable. Innovators, NGOs, funders, government representatives and young changemakers from across the continent gathered under one roof, united by a shared belief: that Africa’s youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are leading right now.
“Rooms like this are proof that when young people are given space, resources and each other, extraordinary things happen.” Marvin Mejoole – Director
What we took away
The event was packed with panel discussions, workshops and networking sessions covering everything from community health to digital literacy, entrepreneurship and climate resilience. Our team participated actively, soaking up knowledge, sharing our own story and forging connections that we believe will shape the organisation’s next chapter.
| New partnerships | Fresh ideas | Visibility |
| We connected with like-minded organisations and potential collaborators from across East Africa. | Workshops on youth-led advocacy and social enterprise sparked new approaches for our programmes. | We had the chance to share Kijiweni Uplift’s mission with a wider audience and amplify our community’s voice. |
Representing our community
Every time we step into spaces like AfricaXchange, we carry the stories, dreams, and resilience of the young people we serve. Being in that room was not just about networking, it was about affirming that Kijiweni matters, that grassroots youth organisations belong in these conversations and that our work is part of a much larger movement transforming the continent.
We are returning home with full notebooks, inspired hearts and a renewed sense of purpose. Watch this space, exciting stuff coming up as we put all our learning into practice.
