Y-MTAANI: A Kenya YMCA Community Outreach Program
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18/10/2025
Kenya YMCA, Central Branch, recently launched the Y-Mtaani program in May 2025 with the vision of bringing empowerment directly to young people in their own neighborhoods. The idea was simple yet transformative: instead of waiting for youth to find their way to YMCA halls, the YMCA would go to them — to the estates, wards and settlements where they live and work. This shift has allowed the organization to reach more young people, particularly those in informal settlements and engage them with programs that respond to their most pressing needs.
The program combines peacebuilding, financial literacy and wellness training into one integrated outreach model. By addressing both social and economic needs, Y-Mtaani empowers young people holistically. Youth learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully, develop leadership skills and gain practical tools for managing money. Alongside these skills, sessions on mental health and wellness provide safe spaces for young people to discuss the challenges they face, ensuring that the program nurtures both resilience and opportunity.
Peacebuilding in Riruta
Riruta was among the first neighborhoods to experience Y-Mtaani’s impact. Weekly peace advocacy sessions provided young people with a safe space to openly discuss political tensions and community disputes. These forums emphasized conflict resolution, tolerance, and empathy, equipping participants with practical skills to mediate conflicts in their families and neighborhoods. Alongside these dialogues, a structured month-long program trained more than 40 youth in peacebuilding, leadership, and financial literacy, blending theory with practice to prepare them as peace ambassadors capable of guiding others toward harmony.
The program culminated in a leadership session that prepared participants to take on mentorship roles. Graduates committed to spreading the peace message in their estates and schools, creating a ripple effect of positive influence. By the end of June, they were ready to step into trainer roles for the next cohort, demonstrating Y-Mtaani’s design as a sustainable cycle of youth-led peacebuilding and community transformation.
Financial Skills in Uthiru and Muthua
In Uthiru, Y-Mtaani introduced financial management and mental wellness sessions to help young people build stronger futures. The workshops guided participants on budgeting, saving and managing everyday stress, making clear the link between economic stability and emotional wellbeing. For many, this was their first opportunity to learn structured money skills and reflect on how mental health influences decision-making.
They took the initiative a step further by offering hands-on business training focused on sustainable income generation. Youth explored saving strategies, business planning and entrepreneurship, drawing from their own aspirations such as opening kiosks or starting group ventures. These sessions ignited a spirit of entrepreneurship and encouraged the formation of savings groups, showing how financial literacy can fuel resilience and growth within the community.
Building Community Health Capacity
Recognizing the importance of wellness, Y-Mtaani trained Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Psychological First Aid. Using the “Look, Listen, Link” model, the sessions equipped participants to identify distress, offer immediate support and connect individuals to further care. This practical approach ensured that mental health support was no longer out of reach but rooted within the community itself.
The training also highlighted leadership and responsibility, preparing CHPs to serve their neighbors with empathy. By embedding mental health awareness into community life, Y-Mtaani created a localized support system that empowers young leaders to respond to crises with confidence. This new capacity has strengthened the communities resilience and broadened the program’s impact beyond financial and peace training.
Cohorts Graduation and Transition
June 2025 was a defining moment for Y-Mtaani as more than 40 young people from Riruta and Muthua graduated after weeks of training in peacebuilding, leadership and financial literacy. The ceremony marked their transformation into youth leaders, ready to apply their new skills in business ventures, community savings groups and peace initiatives. The graduation also showcased Y-Mtaani’s sustainability model — where participants move from learners to mentors, extending the program’s reach and fueling a cycle of empowerment and community transformation.
The program’s grassroots model has already been recognized as a success, bringing YMCA initiatives directly into neighborhoods and making peacebuilding, wellness and entrepreneurship more accessible to young people. Guided by Central Branch Programs Coordinator Chris Kingori, the Y-Mtaani Program, is set to expand to new areas while introducing modules on digital skills and advanced entrepreneurship.
With its consistency and youth-led design, the Y-Mtaani Program will continue to nurture a new generation of leaders while strengthening communities at the grassroots. The program’s next chapter is about expansion, innovation and sustaining momentum for long-term impact.With its consistency and youth-led design, the Y-Mtaani Program will continue to nurture a new generation of leaders while strengthening communities at the grassroots. The program’s next chapter is about expansion, innovation, and sustaining momentum for long-term impact.
By doing so, Y-Mtaani directly advances the Vision 2030 pillar of Community Wellbeing, ensuring that young people live in safer, healthier, and more resilient neighborhoods. At the same time, it reinforces interlinked pillars of Economic Empowerment through financial literacy and entrepreneurship, and Transformative Leadership by preparing youth to become mentors and peace ambassadors. Together, these efforts embody YMCA’s vision 2030 of building a just, equitable and thriving society.
