Youth on Purpose International (YOPI) is an initiative of John Goodnews International Ministries operating under Smile of Africa, an International NGO registered in Kenya. It focuses on bringing youths together, building skills amongst them for excellence in all spheres of their lives. We also hope to influence leadership change through youth. The youth are the majority in most African countries and are affecting and shaping political, economic, social and cultural processes in fundamental ways. They are also situated between the local and the global.

Mission

Empowering the Youth socioeconomically and politically for productive engagement in the society.

Vision

We envisage a youth organization of a membership of one million youths per nation in East and West Africa. There are benefits to this membership that include;

• Networking forums with professionals
• Building of life skills
• Entrepreneurship and wealth creation opportunities
• Experience sharing with youths at leadership positions in their areas
• Mentoring youth into leadership

Objectives

• To inspire leadership among youth to take up leadership in governance.
• Skills building amongst youth for excellence in all spheres of life.
• To influence leadership change through youth movements.
• To convene forums with youth leaders to share learning and experiences;
• To develop a range of media activities and linkages which would contribute in improved leadership in community based networks and civil society organizations.

Values

• Excellence
• Creativity
• Commitment
• Respect
• Innovativeness
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Solidarity
• Optimism

Outcomes

The initiative focuses on alternative leadership in Kenya and the rest of Africa. To redefine the existing concept of leadership by enhancing and creating spaces in other areas apart from politics and involving the youth in positions of leadership.

• To nurture the growth of well-rounded leaders.
• To explore and identify beckons of hope in Africa.
• To examine the core boundary crossing values that cut across gender, age, ethnicities, nationalities and economies.
• To share experiences across spaces formerly seen as fixed, but currently being contested and challenged, while paying homage to the particularities of communities.