You and I is a global solution to Youth development. Youth Development can be achieved even in low-income countries by providing quality education and training and allowing young people to participate in the nation’s political, economic and social life. Health and well-being are also factors that weigh heavily in youth development. Besides encouraging a healthy lifestyle, sports and physical activities also promote teamwork, responsibility and intercultural learning all providing sound bases for young people’s roles in the future. The healthier and more skilled our youth are, and the more they play a role in our societies, the more opportunities and freedom they will have to fulfil their aspirations and talents, and more likely it becomes that we will succeed in achieving the SDGs by 2030.
Our Vision
A world with positive change agents across all sectors.
Our Mission
To educate, engage, enable and empower leaders of character, integrity and positive influence on society.
Our Values
Building Character
Demonstrating Integrity
Inspiring Positive Influence
Demonstrating Integrity
Inspiring Positive Influence
You and I – An introduction to who we are
You and I – Why we focus on the youth
You and I – Why Leadership matters
You and I – What is our influence in the world
The Founders
Fearless influencers of society
Simon Kagwe and Jared Babu believe in serving and developing a bold generation of leaders that will lead its community with integrity.
Entrepreneurs, young leaders, mentors, advisors, friends Simon and Jared are fearless influencers of society. The two met during their AIESEC experiences as Presidents and created a bond and passion for youth development. In 2016 they challenged themselves and set out a mission to impact more leader through a spirit of togetherness that marked the beginning of You and I.
They are counting on young leaders to guide the next generation in becoming the compassionate leaders our world so desperately needs.
The founders behind You and I have vast experience and dedication towards attaining the vision and mission of the organization. They are serving their gift to their generation and doing the best they can.
Simon Kagwe
Co-Founder
Simon’s life’s mission is to be a positive change agent through engaging, developing, and connecting people from all walks of life.
He has been fortunate enough to live a true leadership experience with notable examples like President of AIESEC in Kenya, ALX Launchpad Lead with the African Leadership Group, and Co-founder and Managing Director of You and I. Simon has received several awards including an Associate Fellowship Award of the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and the United Nations Global School Ambassador of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
He is very passionate about leadership and community development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations particularly SDG 4,8 and 17. He is a firm believer in service leadership and that leadership is about character, integrity, and positive influence. The world is counting on ‘You and I” to make a difference. Simon is a Youth, Education and Leadership (E+L) expert and constantly engages in Youth events, forums, conferences, and summits as a speaker, chair, moderator, or facilitator. He is also a coach, mentor, and role model to many young leaders and has authored a book on Youth Developed called Youth on a Mission. He is big on family, loves children, adventures, traveling, board games, movies and making new connections.
Simon’s legacy is to be remembered as a faithful and fruitful follower of Christ who served Him with humility, honor and honesty.
Jared Babu
Co-Founder
Jared was a Business Tycoon with a considerable stake in companies that have interests in the financial, technological, logistics, retail, education, and agricultural sector in Kenya & Africa as a whole. His main goal was to have a positive impact through businesses that brought about social development to its customers and the community around them.
He was also a director at Seaways (K) LTD, a fully owned family business that was founded by his father in 1993. He was the president of AIESEC in Strathmore University. Within his tenure, AIESEC Strathmore was awarded the best AIESEC entity in Kenya. This was due to the high number of incoming and outgoing exchange and leadership opportunities that they raised. AIESEC Strathmore also clinched two awards within Strathmore University for best club and best school ambassador of the year.
He also served as the Chair of Board of Advisors of AIESEC in Strathmore. His extensive experience in business management greatly supported the growth of You and I.
Jared went to be with the Lord on 10th March 2019 together with his dear wife Mercy during the tragic Ethiopian Airlines crash. Their lives will be celebrated from generation to generation because they represented the true You and I spirit of togetherness, excellence, humility, love, and passion for community. May they rest in peace until we meet again.
Through You and I, their legacy lives on forever.
Our partners
You and I is in collaboration with institutions that uphold similar moral and social values and have the young people’s interests in mind and at heart.
At LeadAfrique International, we aim to coordinate all leadership programmes that will tactically cultivate the next generation of the continent’s leaders – in business, governance, public service, academia, religious organisations, uniformed services and chieftaincy. Using the patient and methodical process of farming, LeadAfrique will carefully spot, select, train, and cultivate the next generation of Africa’s leaders.
More information on http://www.leadafrique.org/
Riara University was born out of a sincere desire to provide a holistic approach to higher education. It is a logical continuation of our commitment, dating back to 1974, to ensure the education and development of the whole child, learner, and person. Ours is a concept that goes beyond the classroom, syllabus-based learning, and reaches out to provide stimulation and motivation for self-development and capacity for life-long education.
More about Riara University on http://www.riarauniversity.ac.ke/
The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, supports Commonwealth member countries to achieve development, democracy and peace. We are a voice for small and vulnerable states and a champion for young people. We help to strengthen governance, build inclusive institutions and promote justice and human rights. Our work helps to grow economies and boost trade, empower young people, and address threats such as climate change, debt and inequality.
More about the Commonwealth Secretariat on http://thecommonwealth.org/
The Commonwealth Youth Council is the officially recognized voice of the 1.2 Billion young people of the Commonwealth. It is the largest and most diverse youth-led organization in the world. CYC plays an integral role in advancing the youth development agenda and co-ordination of activities and policies of the Commonwealth in the field of youth. The council works for and represents the voice of all young people within the 52 Commonwealth nations.
More about the Commonwealth Youth Council on http://commonwealthyouthcouncil.com/
The Commonwealth Students’ Association is the joining of student organisations within the Commonwealth. Their role is to be an independent advocate for students and brings students’ perspectives into the policy decision making processes of the Commonwealth.
More about the Commonwealth Student Association on http://commonwealthstudents.org/
AIESEC is a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential. We are a non-political, independent, not-for-profit organisation run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education. Its members are interested in world issues, leadership and management. AIESEC does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion or national/social origin. Since we were founded, we have engaged and developed over 1,000,000 young people who have been through an AIESEC experience.
More about AIESEC on https://aiesec.org/
The Global Schools Program is an initiative led by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) in support of UNESCO’s Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development (GAP-ESD). The vision of the program is to generate interest about sustainable development in schools in an effort to educate and engage students with the SDGs and to encourage them to prioritize the goals in their lifestyles, behaviors, education and professional careers as these goals provide a framework for a better world that children could live in the future. The program aims to do this by transforming learning environments globally and making schools the hubs of education and leadership on SDGs, ultimately becoming vehicles for empowering and mobilizing students and young people to help implement the SDGs in their communities.
More about Global Schools on https://www.globalschoolsprogram.org/
Seaways (K) LTD is a leading freight forwarder and custom broker in Kenya with a dynamic presence across East Africa.
Since 1987, we have provided our customers with flexible, quality and reliable logistic solutions that have set us apart from our competitors. Our motivated customer-focused employees apply their local knowledge and expertise to every operational challenge building strong, personalised relationships with the customers they serve.
Seaways (K) LTD is one of our strategic partners and has also provided us with a working space at their main office in Nairobi.
More information on https://seaways.net/
Our role in the society
In a changing society, leadership is the path to improvement of values that also stimulates healthy living.
You and I brings together youth from all over the world and by doing so, breaks down social barriers creating an inclusive and accepting environment devoid of judgment. If every charity work we manage to help just one youth realize that we are all connected and that until we accept and help one another, regardless of tribe, creed or religion, we will never have peace then we have come one step closer to changing the world.
By fostering friendships that span across countries, You and I creates a social understanding that will in turn, affect the next generation to create a smaller more connected and accepting world.
About the charity
You and I social responsibility is not only concentrated on the youth volunteers’ growth. As a company, we believe in giving back and are dedicated to impacting Kenya as a country by giving to charity and giving of our time to assist the next generation. We connect with companies and charities that have the same moral and social values and exists to help children and young people in less privileged communities.
Our projects
Our focus is to ensure that all our charity projects have a long-term effect, thus aligning them to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Hope House Babies Home
Hope house babies Home is a home for abandoned infants, based in Mountain View estate; Kangemi, Kenya. It was opened to take in Orphan or/and abandoned infants, care for them and offer them a chance at getting adopted. Currently, it supports approximately 20* children aged 2 and below, providing them food, shelter, clothing, health care and basic social needs.
How to get involved
You and I can tackle big issues when we pull together for a good cause.
Volunteer with us
If the global population of volunteers formed their own country, it would be the eighth-largest country in the world.
The first rule of change-making masterminds is this: if you want to pull off something epic, you need a team. Buddy up with your best friends and family and join us in our charity activities and projects.
The first rule of change-making masterminds is this: if you want to pull off something epic, you need a team. Buddy up with your best friends and family and join us in our charity activities and projects.
Contribute through donations
Please send your donations to us before, during, or after the activities.
The contributions include foodstuff, clothes, books, toys, furniture, household items, logistical needs like transportation of the items or the volunteers, and any other materials you so wish to give for a noble initiative.
The contributions include foodstuff, clothes, books, toys, furniture, household items, logistical needs like transportation of the items or the volunteers, and any other materials you so wish to give for a noble initiative.
Monetary support
You can also send your monetary donation by contacting us. All proceeds go towards ensuring the sustainability of the charity activities and projects.