Taking S2C to another level

By David Ngosa

Zambia is full of S2C flames. From the time we came back from Ethiopia, as ambassadors of change for the From Subject to Citizen initiative we have not rested and life has continued reminding us of our task as ambassadors.

So many things are happening in Zambia with the most exiting being the introduction of the S2C in schools, communities and now the streets. Zambia YMCS however realized that there is a group of young people who are likely to be forgotten in this fight.

If we remember the Kenya Burning documentary, it was evident that most of the fighting and violence in Kenya was happening on the streets. What does this mean then to the children and youth found working and begging on the streets? This is the question that Zambia YMCA is answering.

With the introduction of our street children support projects, which aim to support children and adults working and living on the streets, Zambia YMCA has introduced the concept behind the project to the project beneficiaries. We realized that this group of people needs to be loved and cared for. The project is therefore designed in such a way that the youth and children on the street be given the right to education and good health.  Zambia YMCA is providing meals, medical support, educational support for children, recreation activities and also skills development for the children, guardian and relatives of the children found on the streets. In addition to this, the Zambia YMCA is also providing health information, re-integration counseling and motivational talks.

Groups like street children are in most cases left out on issues of personal development because of the belief that this group is harmful to many people. This is one of the reasons why Zambia YMCA found it beneficial to introduce the S2C concept in order to trim down cases of violence on the streets. Since the motivational talks with children and adults, the discussions have centred on how violence can be reduced among young people found and working on the street.

Because of regular counseling, some children have since taken to school with some of the adults in vocational training centers. We believe that it’s only when the young person is empowered that they will have the power to use their voice to speak and be listened to. YMCA Zambia is now planning to train some of the adults from the streets who will be made role models and deliver the S2C information to fellow young adults on the streets.

A tireless fight to improve the lives of the Youth

By Wamukoya John

“We ignore the youth at our own peril” I have always warned the Kenya YMCA leaders, and as such we have embarked on an ambitious plan to revamp the Kenya YMCA youth programs and committees after years of neglect. Our ultimate agenda is to turn at least a few branches/units into transformation centers of excellence.

Following my involvement in the S2C process I have spearheaded another ambitious program aimed at reconciling communities through youth exchange programs and visits where youth switch areas for at least a week. The program has seen youth from Nakuru and Naivasha interact; areas which were hotspots in the post-election violence.

In developing youth/adult mentorship we help young people to find friendship in us and this is what we need to do to transform young people from Subject to Citizens.

Young people know that leadership is a process which influences people to accomplish an objective in a cohesive and coherent manner. Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes, as beliefs, values, ethics, character knowledge and skills. And this is what young people have been prevented from practicing. Through our interaction with young people and presentation/discussion of the Subject to Citizen concept, it is clear that we need to enable effective leadership among youth by:

• Providing access to resources: this is the greatest handicap to youth seeking leadership opportunities.
• Giving due attention to youth thoughts, opinions and ideas: young people need to be allowed to flourish. They can only thrive where there is autonomy for entrepreneurship.
• Keeping young people informed and involved in major decisions.
• Facilitating youth participation in activities that enhance skills.
• Widening the youth leadership horizon.
• Re-emphasizing leadership qualities.

To be able to develop young leaders, practical strategies for engaging in shared leadership are:

• Youth should be sensitized to rise up and make their own situations better.
• Mentorship programs should be in place to nurture young people.
• Design training programs which aim at bonding the youth and elders to embrace shared leadership.
• Involve youth from all background in policy formulation processes.
• People at all levels of leadership should be sensitized to embrace gender equity.
• Network existing youth movements to enhance exchange programs on leadership development.
• Intermarriage (cross-culture marriage) should be encouraged among the youth as a mean to eliminate tribalism in Kenya.
• Designing and implementing appropriate organizational structures and policies that facilitate shared leadership.

On the future of youth leadership in Kenya, S2C identifies the promotion of shared leadership and the development and promotion of mentorship programmes as the way to go. Besides, the reforms should also embrace the principle of equity by mainstreaming gender balance and that of other marginalized groups. There is a need to promote only credible leadership across all generations and this we are already doing by empowering young people.

African Youth Summit Report

Hi everyone!

You can find the report on the African Youth Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2009, by following this download.

My role, my responsibility

By John Wamukoya

On 26 Feb 2010 the staff of Kenya YMCA were taken through the civic competence process by AAYMCA.

The presentation made it easy for me to sell the S2C process to my fellow staff which in the long run they adopted as a mean to re-awaken Kenya YMCA in empowering young people. In line with the three components of the strategic intention and approaches (Youth Justice, Civic Action, Gender Action), we were able to visualise the role of KYMCA in empowering young people across the country.

The staff agreed to have the branches/units carry out a SWOT analysis (looking at the strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) to position them for proper implementation. This is a great move by the Kenya YMCA staff in realising our dream of building the civic competence of young people in Africa.

With guidance from the Africa Alliance staff, the branches will be able to form project teams that will oversee the implementation. Africa Alliance is spearheading the negotiation for Kenya YMCA to be the lead organisation in the western part of Kenya (which covers the most affected region with political violence that is Nyanza, Western and Rift Valley) with a special focus on the third strategy of Gender Action Programme. The purpose is to change hegemonic notions of male masculinity to be a transforming force in the society – one that empowers rather than indignifies women.

Go Kenya YMCA go.

THE DREAM COME TRUE

By Wamukoya John Baptister, Kenya YMCA

On 29 January 2010 Kenya YMCA Nakuru branch, one of the pilot site of the S2C process, made a remarkable step in realising our dream of empowering young people from subject to citizen. The Branch Management Committee (BMC) adopted the concept as one of its strategic approaches towards civic education in Nakuru.


I took the BMC through the process, and in adopting S2C, the board discussed localising it to ensure relevance and success for the youth.


In line with the process and principles of the Youth Summit, members agreed:

·      The branch needs to make it people centered: by engaging in youth advocacy

·      To have mutual respect: respect people’s knowledge, experience, perspectives, skills and unique role in the community.

This was brought about by the fact that Nakuru is a cosmopolitan town and people still have suspicions after the post-election violence and the on-off political unrest.

·      Participation: as a branch we ensure equal space for individual and collective participation.

·      Holistic response: based on the knowledge that S2C requires an integrated long-term and multi-pronged response.


Members agreed to participate in and support the implementation of this process at the branch. The Programmes Manager was requested to share progress information with members to build ownership, especially with the youth committee.

Truly we are moving forward – developing S2C curriculum

By Wamukoya John Baptister, Kenya YMCA

From 15-17 December 2009, the staff of Africa Alliance of YMCAs and S2C ambassadors from Kenya joined efforts in making sure the creed is kept alive and the S2C plan implemented. For three days we gathered at the Elementaita Country Lodge in Naivasha, Kenya, to finalize the development of S2C curriculum.

Led by consultants Mutahi Ngunyi and France Ang’ila, we critiqued the first draft of the S2C curriculum. We were guided by the baseline survey findings (conducted in June and July in Kenya, Liberia and Zimbabwe). The baseline survey was to establish the level of competence and involvement of young people, and these perceptions emerged from it:

• Urban youth are more competent than rural youth

• Men are more competent than women

• People are more competent in groups than individual

• There is no relationship/progression from voice, space to ability to influence

• Level of subjective competence cuts across all age sets

• The higher you go in terms of government administration the lesser the influence

• Government is less responsive to the urban youth compared to rural

We looked at training approaches in relation to the baseline survey and it was agreed that the Ubuntu (I am because we are) philosophy will help us to realize the potential of young people having rights and responsibilities.

 The S2C curriculum will bring the facilitative participatory approach in realizing our dream of empowering young people for the African Renaissance. This means you and I will be and have to be involved, by creating awareness on the young people’s role in changing the face of our countries and Africa and making sure young people participate in all levels of decision making.

The curriculum is now being revised and training material developed. The plan is to review and validate the curriculum in April 2010, when a test run will be done in the three pilot countries.

So what is our role as S2C Ambassadors? This is what was decided:

• Help in selecting the change catalysts (according to developed criteria)

• Help in establishing the Y-Clubs and R-Clubs

• Some Ambassadors may be eligible to be change catalysts

• Promote the S2C concept

• Involvement in the test driving of the curriculum

No more just jumping over that imaginary stick!

National General Secretary of Ghana highlights S2C in the innaugural Ghana YMCA newsletter, Motiv8.

by Prosper Hoeyi


Hello Beloved Reader,

Welcome to the YMCA Motiv8 Newsletter which is established for all young people in Ghana to share their views on matters that concern them. We believe that youthfulness does not only lie in one’s age but is also a state of mind. For that reason all youth-minded people are also welcome on board. It is our hope that this newsletter will be a source of inspiration to young people to find their voice, claim their space and influence policies in a way that will transform them from subjects to citizens.

A citizen is one who knows her rights and responsibilities and positions herself in a way that she can influence for change in her society. A subject on the other hand does not know her rights and responsibilities and so cannot claim her space. Even where she is given the space she cannot occupy it because she is not equipped for it. A subject is therefore prone to becoming a pawn or a tool in the hand of a manipulator.

This newsletter is an invitation to all young persons to liberate themselves from the shackles of subservience to become citizens of the society. We invite you to dare to be different. Stand up to be counted as a citizen and not a subject! You matter and you can make a difference. Awaken the giant within you and use all your strength and mental faculties to make the society a better place. Resolve to leave footprints that can be counted in the sand of time and not deeds that are written on water.

Your body, mind and spirit are your greatest assets so do everything to preserve and develop them. Nourish and exercise your body well and protect it from avoidable diseases. Develop your mind through learning and positive thinking while you commune with your Maker to seek your spiritual growth. By this you will attain a holistic development in body mind and spirit and become a balanced citizen of the world.

If you feel the energy, then pass it on. You are welcome to contribute your articles or views to motiv8 others.

Peace be with you!