Impact Stories & Blogs

"When spider-webs unite, they can tie up a lion"

Africa’s demographic bonus presents the private sector with innovativeness and enthusiasm of young people as well as their borderless outlook of life through mobile technology and the internet. Young people offer incredible potential and offer new insights on current and future policies for the private sector.

The YALI Regional Leadership Center approach to building partnerships is proactive and seeks to co-design, co-create and co-learn with partners. Partnerships with Africa 24 Media, Family Group Foundation, G&E, IBM, Intel, Knod Foundation, Mara Foundation, ONE.org and Procter and Gamble are already underway. We are in advanced discussions with Citi Bank and Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) on an exciting new partnership.

Microsoft’s leadership in Kenya and the United States of America has demonstrated its commitment to Africa’s youth economic empowerment. Microsoft’s support to the Center has been demand-driven and has grown organically based on mutually identified needs. Together, we have co-designed and co-created partnerships that add much value to our work. Beyond financial support, Microsoft has provided valuable technology support through Yammer, a private social network platform that allows the Center to keep our participants engaged and connected before, during and after their 12-week instruction program. Microsoft’s senior staff have volunteered their time as mentors and instructors to our young leaders. Additionally, Microsoft co-sponsored (with Procter and Gamble) our inaugural welcome and graduation ceremonies. Microsoft is the first corporation to sponsor a room at our center. Our partnership with Microsoft provides an excellent model on how to engage with the private sector.

We are delighted to have Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) as a partner. KCB is an excellent regional partner, with presence in six of the 14 countries, which the Center targets. KCB recently signed an memorandum of understanding with the Center, to provide support totaling up to US$1 million over a five year period. KCB also generously sponsored our inaugural partnership gala held on October 8, 2015. Joshua Oigara, the bank's Group CEO, has been a guest speaker at the Center where he shared his leadership journey with our participants.

An exciting part of our program is to expose our participants to industry leaders from the region and around the world. Our ‘evening with’ events are among the most popular sessions for our young leaders as they allow them to engage with respected leaders, and hear their personal leadership journeys. These unplugged events provide practical real life lessons on leadership and life. Our speakers have included: Amrote Abdellah (General Manager, Microsoft 4Afrika) Bob Collymore (CEO- Safariom); Harveen Godhoke (Partner, Deloitte); Joshua Oigara (CEO KCB Group); Kakenya Ntaiya (CEO Kakenya Center); Martin Oduor (Partner, Deloitte); Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu (Judge, Supreme Court of Kenya) Olive Mugenda (Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University); Amb Robert Godec (US Ambassador to Kenya); and Wanjiru Kamau- Rutenberg (Director, AWARD). We are grateful to these leaders who have volunteered their time and shared their stories of leadership with our young people.