Here is an excerpt of my recent feature in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
WHAT IS YALI?
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by former President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35.
Here is an excerpt
“To date we have been able to reach more than 3 million people with relevant information and we have diagnosed over 30,000 people in free medical camps that we have organised and participated in. We have had 7 major projects, launched 2 mobile applications and gamified health education. Currently, we are conducting a multinational project called the NCDs 365 that operates in 8 African countries.” Ogweno says.
He adds, “Through the NCDs 365 project we have been able to work with the Vihiga county Government to open 4 NCDs clinics where we have volunteered our services and provided equipment for the NCDs clinics to continue functioning amidst COVID-19 pandemic. We have also been able to distribute masks and sanitizers to our NCDs communities.”
To date Stowelink Inc has been able to achieve tremendous impact. Below is their cumulative impact in numbers since 2015:
- 3.1+ million people have been targeted with messages on NCDs
- 24 institutions of higher learning (universities colleges and TVETS) have worked with them
- 43 high schools and primary schools that they have worked with
- 8 countries where they have active partners (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa)
- 1,200 is the number of books that they have distributed in the schools that they have worked with (The Drug Free Youth Book and Mental Health Matters Anthology written by Stephen Ogweno)
- 24 is the number of medical camps where they have either volunteered or independently organized.
- 9 is the number of youth they have employed with a network of 1,126 volunteers
Before Ogweno joined YALI RLC EA, Stowelink was just starting of in its second year. He says, “I found out about the Program when I was a student at Kenyatta University. After 3 applications, I was finally accepted.”
Read full story on this link LINK
#ogwenoimpacts
STEPHEN OGWENO 