On 12 August 2026, Inua NextGen Kenya joined young people and partners in celebrating International Youth Day under the theme Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnership.
The event brought together roughly 60 to 70 young people at the Keroka Farmers' Co-operative Society for a day of learning, dialogue, networking, and reflection on the role of young people in shaping more inclusive and sustainable communities.
Creating space to connect and lead
The celebration gave young people an opportunity to come together, share experiences, explore opportunities, and discuss how they can contribute to positive change within their communities.
Discussions kept returning to the same threads: technology, partnerships, innovation, leadership, and meaningful youth participation in addressing the challenges young people face today.
Participants were encouraged to see themselves not only as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as active contributors and leaders in their communities.
Partnerships for greater impact
A key message from the day was that meaningful change requires collaboration. Inua NextGen Kenya was glad to engage with a range of stakeholders and youth-serving organisations, alongside the local administration.
Through partnerships like these, young people gain access to information, mentorship, skills, financial opportunities, networks, and the platforms they need to turn ideas into action.
Who joined us
- Nyamira Youth Organization
- Team Up Charity
- Ebenezer Electricals
- Unzip Events Kenya
- Big Brains Foundation
- Christ Followers Africa
Together with representatives of the local administration, whose participation showed the value of bringing different actors together to create opportunities and support systems for young people.
Technology as a tool for youth empowerment
Digital transformation is opening new ground across education, employment, entrepreneurship, and civic participation. Young people were encouraged to explore how it can be used to build livelihoods and address challenges close to home.
Participants also raised a concern worth holding onto: that young people in underserved and rural communities are not left behind in the digital economy. Access to skills, information, technology and supportive networks is what allows young people to become economically independent and active participants in development.
Making room for mental health and wellbeing
A dedicated session on mental health awareness gave young people a safe and supportive space to speak openly about grief, loss, emotional strain, and coping with difficult moments.
The conversation centred on seeking support, staying connected to trusted friends, family and community members, and recognising when someone may be struggling. Participants discussed ways of managing overwhelming emotions and how to respond when someone is having thoughts of suicide, with a clear message throughout: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
What the session reinforced is the need for communities where young people can talk about their mental health without fear of judgment, and where anyone in distress can be connected to appropriate support and professional services.
If you or someone you know needs support
Befrienders Kenya offers free, confidential emotional support on +254 722 178 177, Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
For urgent help at any hour, the Kenya Red Cross crisis line is available 24/7 on 1199.
Looking beyond the celebration
International Youth Day is more than an occasion to celebrate young people. It is a reminder to keep investing in their ideas, their skills, their wellbeing, and their leadership.
As Inua NextGen Kenya grows, we remain committed to building platforms where young people can connect, learn, lead, innovate, and contribute to positive change. Young people in rural and underserved communities deserve the same opportunities to participate, innovate and shape their futures as young people anywhere else.
We are grateful to every young person, partner, speaker, volunteer and stakeholder who helped make the celebration meaningful.
Our commitment
We will continue working with communities and partners across four areas.
- Youth livelihoods and empowermentSkills, networks and opportunities that help young people earn and lead.
- Gender equalityEqual footing for young women and men in every programme we run.
- Disability and social inclusionProgrammes designed so no one is left at the edge of them.
- Climate action and resilienceHelping communities adapt and build for a sustainable future.
From the day
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