Nicholas’s Pay It Forward in Ethiopia: An Impact Across Generations
As we celebrated Day of the African Child last week, I felt like a proud Asante Africa Alumni
My name is Nicholas. I was born in Samburu County, Kenya. I attended my first LEI in 2015, held at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi, Kenya. There, I was inspired by Asante Africa youth in East Africa who shared great achievement stories. Because of that, I committed and dedicated myself to go the extra mile to serve African children and the world in a unique way. I do the best I can to open opportunities for children in school and society. Now, I volunteer in Ethiopia.
For two years now, I have taught at a school on the Kenyan border on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I mentor and teach students in Ethiopia.
With my income from teaching in Kenya, I buy exercise books for learners, and sanitary products for adolescent girls in Ethiopia.
I open the door to opportunity for students at two schools in Grade 1 to Grade 8 with education, life skill lessons, mentoring programs, and girls advancement. My goal is to strengthen the leadership of youth and create awareness on harmful practices affecting children like early marriages, school drop out, early pregnancy, gender violence of the girl child, and substance abuse
I want to help students excel in life and strengthen our future leaders. I involve children in goal setting and creating income generating activities to attend school so that they can have equal access to education. I also collaborate with leaders from different backgrounds to create a peaceful environment for educating children and transforming worlds.
I want to find solutions to challenges facing youth and children at school. I have saved many girls and boys from harmful practices, many who now join secondary school this year.
It is time to trust youth in leadership to raise solutions to challenges locally, nationally, and internationally. I send a special thanks to Asante Africa Foundation for their Leadership and Entrepreneurship Incubator Program because they strengthened my leadership skills.
Thank you. From Samburu County, partnering with youth in Ethiopia to offer a mentorship program.