REPORT ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND PEACEBUILDING MENTORSHIP FOR YOUTH IN LIKONI AND MAJENGO

A Youth-Led Initiative Supported by Swahilipot Hub and YOWPSUD through the Youth Network Hub

Background

With support from Swahilipot Hub and YOWPSUD, under the Youth Network Hub, a civic education and peacebuilding mentorship initiative was conducted targeting young people in Likoni and Majengo, Mombasa County. The initiative was designed to strengthen youth participation in governance, peacebuilding and security processes, while addressing social and economic vulnerabilities that often expose young people to exclusion, conflict and limited civic engagement.

Anchored in YOWPSUD’s vision of advancing inclusive governance and youth participation in peace and security decision-making, the mentorship sought to equip young people with practical civic knowledge, leadership skills and peacebuilding capacities to engage meaningfully in governance spaces and contribute to peaceful and resilient communities.

Through the partnership between Swahilipot Hub and YOWPSUD as members of the Youth Network Hub, the initiative also demonstrated the value of youth-led collaborative platforms in promoting local solutions to governance and peace challenges.

Project Goal

To strengthen youth leadership and participation in inclusive governance and peacebuilding processes by equipping young people in Likoni and Majengo with civic knowledge, peacebuilding skills and pathways for engagement in decision-making spaces.

Objectives

The mentorship aimed to:

1. Enhance youth understanding of governance systems, rights and public participation processes.

2. Build capacities of young people to contribute to peacebuilding and community security efforts.

3. Promote youth representation in decision-making spaces on governance, peace and security.

4. Connect youth to socio-economic opportunities that build resilience and reduce vulnerability to violence.

5. Strengthen youth-led collaboration and advocacy through the Youth Network Hub ecosystem.

   
   

Key Focus Areas

1. Civic Leadership and Inclusive Governance Participation

A key component of the mentorship focused on strengthening youth understanding of their civic roles and responsibilities. Participants were mentored on constitutional rights, public participation mechanisms and practical avenues to engage in governance processes, including Ward-level budget hearings and County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) consultations.

The sessions encouraged youth to move from passive recipients of government services to active stakeholders able to influence policy and development priorities. Discussions also emphasized the need for young people to claim space within governance structures and advocate for accountability through peaceful and constructive engagement.

2. Youth Leadership in Peacebuilding and Security

Peace and security formed a core pillar of the mentorship. Youth participants explored their role as peace ambassadors, mediators and contributors to community safety and social cohesion.

Particular emphasis was placed on youth participation in decision-making tables on matters of peace and security, recognizing that young people are often excluded from these spaces despite being directly affected by insecurity and conflict dynamics.

The sessions strengthened awareness on conflict prevention, civic approaches to addressing grievances and the role of youth-led peacebuilding in fostering community resilience.

3. Strategic Opportunities for Youth Empowerment and Resilience

Recognizing the link between economic exclusion and insecurity, the mentorship also mapped opportunities for youth empowerment and livelihoods.

Participants were linked to:

• Digital skills and employment pathways through MvitaJitume and Ajira platforms.

• Youth group organizing for access to opportunities under the NYOTA Project and AGPO.

• Innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities through Swahilipot Hub and creative economy spaces.

• Opportunities in the blue economy and hospitality sectors relevant to the coastal context.

This integrated approach positioned economic empowerment as part of a broader peacebuilding and resilience agenda.

Key Outcomes

The initiative contributed to:

• Increased youth awareness and engagement in governance processes.

• Strengthened capacity of youth to participate in peacebuilding and community security efforts.

• Improved confidence among young people to engage in advocacy and decision-making spaces.

• Enhanced linkages between youth and economic empowerment opportunities.

• Strengthened collaboration between youth-led actors under the Youth Network Hub in advancing peace and governance outcomes.

The mentorship also reinforced the importance of youth-centered approaches in preventing violence and building inclusive community leadership.

Lessons and Funding Opportunity

The initiative highlighted strong youth interest and readiness to engage in governance and peacebuilding, while also revealing the need for sustained support structures, mentorship and resourcing.

There is a clear opportunity for investment in scaling youth-led peace and governance interventions through:

• Continued civic education and peacebuilding mentorship in hotspot communities.

• Youth civic and peace resource desks at community and sub-county levels.

• Structured pathways for youth participation in local peace and security mechanisms.

• Support to youth networks and innovation hubs as platforms for governance and peacebuilding action.

• Long-term investment in youth-led prevention approaches that address drivers of exclusion and conflict.

Support for such interventions would strengthen youth agency, deepen inclusive governance and contribute to sustainable peace and security outcomes.

Conclusion

The civic education and peacebuilding mentorship in Likoni and Majengo demonstrated the power of youth-led collaboration in advancing governance inclusion and community peace. Through support from Swahilipot Hub and YOWPSUD under the Youth Network Hub, young people were equipped not only as civic actors, but as peacebuilders and contributors to decision-making on issues that affect their communities.

The initiative affirms that investing in youth leadership for peace and governance is both a development priority and a strategic contribution to sustainable peace and security.