At Makina Mosque in the heart of Kibera on December 24, 2025, something extraordinary unfolded. Sixty young leaders from across Nairobi’s informal settlements gathered not for a holiday celebration, but for something more powerful—a chance to transform themselves into agents of democratic change in their communities. MYSD’s Capacity Building Forum brought together youth from Kaloleni, Huruma, and Mathare with community leaders, religious figures, and partner organizations in a day that would equip an entire generation with tools for civic engagement and accountability..

“When youth understand governance, they don’t just demand change—they become the architects of transformation. At Makina Mosque, we witnessed young people discovering their power to hold systems accountable and shape their communities’ futures.”

Across Nairobi’s informal settlements, young people see daily challenges with water access, sanitation, security, and health services, yet often lack structured ways to document problems or demand accountability. The Makina Mosque forum changed that equation. Through intensive training in democratic leadership, Community Scorecard methodology, and civic education, MYSD equipped 60 youth leaders with practical skills to assess governance performance, collect evidence systematically, and advocate effectively. These aren’t abstract concepts—they’re tools youth are already using to map service delivery gaps and build cases for community improvement..

The forum delivered comprehensive capacity building through multiple integrated sessions. Democratic Leadership Training covered governance principles, conflict resolution, and inclusive decision-making through interactive role plays and practical exercises. The Community Scorecard Framework Development Workshop trained participants in participatory monitoring, teaching them to identify locally relevant indicators for water provision, sanitation, security, health services, and administrative responsiveness. Civic Education Sessions explored rights, responsibilities, and advocacy strategies, while Community Mapping Orientation prepared youth for systematic field data collection across target settlements. The diversity of the group—representing all six sports clubs—ensured strategies developed would reflect varied community realities.

Building Lasting Accountability Through Youth Leadership

The Makina Mosque forum represents a critical milestone in MYSD’s Youth Sports Empowerment for Community Transformation project, supported by the Embassy of Ireland to Kenya. These 60 trained youth leaders are now actively mentoring peers within their clubs, cascading democratic leadership concepts throughout their communities. They’re conducting governance assessments, collecting Community Scorecard data, and preparing evidence-based advocacy campaigns. This isn’t a one-time training—it’s the foundation of sustained youth-led accountability in Nairobi’s informal settlements, where young people are claiming their rightful role as civic actors and governance monitors.

Join MYSD in empowering youth through sports and civic education:
Email: mtaani.sports@gmail.com | Phone: 0734257314
Website: www.mysportsdevelopment.org

Project supported by: Embassy of Ireland to Kenya