NextGen Global Initiative

Child Empowerment and Community Outreach Program
2025-06-06 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | kisumu, Kenya
The Child Empowerment Program is designed to protect, nurture, and prepare children for a successful and responsible future. This program addresses challenges such as child neglect, abuse, poor early childhood development (ECD), and educational disparities. In regions like Turkana, the 2023 UNICEF report revealed that over 45% of children under five suffer from stunting, while less than 30% attend early childhood centers. Similarly, in urban slums of Nairobi such as Kibera and Mathare, children are vulnerable to abuse, malnutrition, and poor access to quality education due to poverty and overcrowding. The program aims to provide holistic child development through community-based ECD centers, parental sensitization, feeding programs, mentorship, talent development, and psychosocial support.
The implementation will involve partnering with the Ministry of Education, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and schools to set up NeGI Child Development Centers in each target county. These centers will offer structured learning, nutritional support, play-based therapy, and value-based education. Community caregivers and trained volunteers will be engaged to promote child rights and parenting education. By empowering children and creating safe and nurturing environments, the program hopes to reduce child exploitation, improve literacy and numeracy skills, and produce responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to society.
NeGI’s Community Outreach Program has been further expanded to include direct social support to vulnerable community members such as the elderly, widows, and people with disabilities. Across counties like Turkana, Kisumu, and Mombasa, widespread poverty, urban displacement, and food insecurity continue to threaten the well-being of many. A 2023 report by the World Food Programme highlighted that over 4.4 million Kenyans required food assistance. To address this, NeGI will carry out targeted outreach missions to build simple housing units for the homeless and the elderly, supply food and clothing, and offer psychosocial support to those living in isolation. These humanitarian responses will be coordinated with local churches, mosques, youth groups, and the county social development offices. Community kitchens and mobile feeding points will be established in the most affected zones during droughts and festive seasons. By offering practical support and restoring dignity, NeGI will foster compassion, reduce suffering, and reinforce the social fabric across generations and demographics.

Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Program
2025-05-08 08:00 - 14:00 | machakos, Kenya
The Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Program aims to curb the rising trend of drug and alcohol abuse among youths, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. Recent studies reveal alarming levels of drug and substance abuse among Kenyan youth and students. According to NACADA (2024), 45.6% of university students have used at least one drug in their lifetime, with 26.6% currently using, primarily alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and shisha. Among secondary school students, 23.4% have experimented with drugs, while 20.2% of primary pupils have tried substances like tobacco, miraa, and alcohol. Nationally, 9.1% of youth aged 15–24 are current users of at least one substance, with peer influence and easy access through friends, local vendors, and online platforms being major drivers. This growing trend highlights the urgent need for school-based prevention programs, mentorship, counseling, and community sensitization to combat early exposure and support behavioral change. According to the 2022 NACADA report, over 37% of secondary school students in Nakuru experimented with alcohol or other substances. In Mombasa, coastal proximity and porous borders have increased the availability of hard drugs, while Nairobi continues to experience rising rates of bhang and shisha consumption in nightclubs and informal settlements. These trends have resulted in mental health challenges, increased school dropouts, criminal behavior, and broken family units.
To address this, NeGI will launch multi-faceted awareness campaigns, establish school-based drug prevention clubs, and conduct parental and teacher training to identify and respond to early signs of addiction. Community outreach forums will be held in churches, schools, and marketplaces to sensitize the public. Additionally, the program will facilitate rehabilitation referrals and support recovering addicts through mentorship and integration into productivity programs like vocational training. Strategic partnerships with NACADA, county governments, and hospitals will ensure the provision of medical and psychosocial support. Long-term, this program aims to reduce drug abuse cases by at least 20% in target areas and restore dignity and purpose among vulnerable youth.

Empowerment of People with Disabilities (PWDs) Program
2025-01-19 10:00 - 15:30 | kisumu, Kenya
The Empowerment of People with Disabilities Program addresses the systemic exclusion and marginalization of PWDs in Kenya. People with disabilities (PWDs) in Kenya face significant challenges across multiple dimensions: they make up approximately 2–16% of the population, official estimates place them at around 2.2% (918,000 people), while other studies suggest up to 15% (~8.6 million) (kenya.unfpa.org). Of these, mobility disabilities are most common (42%), followed by visual (36%), cognitive (23%), hearing (16%), self-care (15%), and communication difficulties (12%) (kenya.unfpa.org). Most PWDs live in rural areas and struggle with poverty: unemployment rates exceed 70–80%, compared to much lower rates among non-disabled Kenyans (en.wikipedia.org). Educational access is also severely limited; literacy among PWDs is lower, and few schools have adequate resources or trained teachers, especially for specialized needs like sign language (csr-world.org). Only about 5% of PWDs have health insurance; around 40% encounter physical barriers in accessing care, and up to 25% face discrimination from providers (the-star.co.ke). Accessibility issues permeate transport and public buildings, forcing innovative but expensive solutions like Nairobi’s Ace Mobility service (apnews.com). Despite supportive legal frameworks, enforcement remains weak, with only 4% of public institutions meeting the mandatory 5% PWD employment quota (ncpwd.go.ke).
Many PWDs face barriers in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and public infrastructure. For example, in Makueni, disability prevalence is around 3.8%, yet less than 30% of PWDs have access to formal education or vocational training. In Turkana, cultural stigma and limited-service delivery have left most PWDs dependent and isolated. Urban areas like Nairobi and Kisumu often lack inclusive infrastructure like ramps, elevators, or sign-language interpreters in public offices.
This program will create inclusive learning and training opportunities for PWDs by partnering with special schools, local artisans, and community-based organizations. NeGI will offer scholarships, assistive devices (wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc.), and tailored vocational training based on local market needs. Through advocacy forums and legal awareness, PWDs will also be equipped to fight for their rights and participate in governance. Community sensitization campaigns will help eliminate stigma and promote inclusion. Ultimately, the program will enable PWDs to become self-reliant, economically empowered, and socially integrated, while promoting disability-inclusive development practices in Kenya and beyond.

Gender Equality and Teen Empowerment Program
2024-01-11 09:30 - 16:30 | machakos, Kenya
The Gender Equality and Teen Empowerment Program is aimed at equipping boys and girls with life skills, leadership capacity, and reproductive health knowledge to help them navigate the challenges of adolescence and early adulthood. Gender-based violence (GBV) and teenage pregnancies continue to pose serious challenges for Kenyan adolescents: a 2024 report revealed that 42% of all adolescents have experienced some form of GBV, with 26.1% of boys and 16% of girls reporting physical violence, and 3.7% of girls suffering sexual violence (citizen.digital). Kenya ranks third globally in teen pregnancies, with one in five girls aged 15–19 already mothers or expecting, and over 254,000 adolescent pregnancies recorded in 2023 alone (womankenya.com). High rates of early marriage—23% of girls marry before 18 (4% before 15)—are compounded by poverty, lack of education, and poor access to sexual and reproductive health services . These trends not only impair girls’ physical and mental health but often result in school dropout, social exclusion, and increased vulnerabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated prevention, education, and support interventions.
Among our pilot counties, for instance, in Kisumu, teenage pregnancy stands at 22%, affecting girls’ school completion rates. Mombasa reports increased cases of gender-based violence (GBV), while in Kiambu and Nairobi, cultural stereotypes and toxic masculinity continue to hinder positive male engagement in development. Furthermore, many rural teens lack access to information about consent, menstrual hygiene, and reproductive rights and that is why we come in as an organization to help in curbing these issues.
NeGI will implement gender-responsive teen clubs in schools, offering mentorship, SRHR training, career guidance, and peer-to-peer counseling. Boys will be engaged in positive masculinity programs to reduce sexual harassment and promote shared responsibilities. Girls will receive leadership training, hygiene kits, and business startup support. The initiative will also organize intergenerational dialogue forums, linking teens with role models and policymakers. By addressing harmful practices such as FGM, early marriage, and school-related sexual violence, this program seeks to create a safer, more equitable society. Its ripple effect will be seen in increased school retention rates, improved self-confidence among teens, and a generation that champions equality and respect.

School Outreach Program for Mentorship, Guidance, and Counseling
2023-01-09 10:00 - 2023-01-11 16:30 | nairobi, Kenya
The School Outreach Program is designed to provide holistic support for students through mentorship, counseling, and value-based guidance across learning institutions. Kenya faces a troubling education crisis, with nearly one-third (35%) of secondary students dropping out before completing school, often due to early pregnancy, lack of fees, or poor academic performance (nation.africa). Early pregnancy is a significant factor: nearly 98% of adolescent girls who become mothers by age 18 leave school, accounting for approximately 13,000 unplanned pregnancies annually (nation.africa). Substance abuse is another major issue; around 9.9% of adolescents (15–19) report using alcohol, 3% cigarettes, 1.5% khat, and 0.9% cannabis, with widespread truancy and behavior problems linked to drug use (standardmedia.co.ke). Academically, many pupils struggle; Uwezo Kenya found that 85% of Standard 2 students cannot read a paragraph in English, 79% cannot read Swahili, and 30% cannot perform simple subtraction, reflecting weak foundational learning (en.wikipedia.org). These overlapping challenges; dropout, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and poor literacy; underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions in mentorship, reproductive health, mental wellness, and academic support.
In many parts of Kiambu, Nairobi, and Nakuru, etc. students experience challenges such as peer pressure, depression, lack of direction, bullying, and family neglect, which often manifest in poor academic performance or dropout, early pregnancies, drug and substance abuse among other challenges. NeGI will partner with local schools, county education offices, and religious organizations to initiate structured outreach activities that include motivational speaking, career guidance, emotional support, and peer mentoring. Through trained volunteers, life coaches, and professionals, NeGI will establish Mentorship Clubs in each partnered school, which will serve as consistent touchpoints for emotional growth and personal development. Club sessions will include goal setting, talent discovery, civic responsibility, life skills training, and academic support. Special attention will be given to boarding school populations and vulnerable learners in informal schools. This program is expected to foster purpose-driven learners, reduce school-related anxiety, and nurture a generation of responsible, ethical, and visionary youth.
