My name is Roscher Wilson. I am a born-again Christian, a final-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and part of the Tuungane CBO team, where I spearhead youth engagement and serve as the Climate Action Officer.
From a Volunteer Opportunity to a Platform for Growth
My journey with Tuungane CBO began in March 2025 through the COSME-supported Roots & Shoots project. What initially drew me to the organization was its passion for young people and its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth to learn, participate and lead.
Since then, my experience at the organisation has changed me in ways I did not anticipate. Through its programmes, I have interacted with different communities and young people and taken on responsibilities that have pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Tuungane has also exposed me to valuable opportunities for both personal and professional development through stakeholder engagements, workshops, trainings and other learning opportunities. These experiences have allowed me to build my confidence, strengthen my communication and leadership skills, expand my professional networks and learn from people working across different sectors. Each opportunity has not only added to my knowledge and skills but has also helped me better understand the kind of professional and community leader I want to become.
Before joining Tuungane, I was not confident in engaging communities. I often wondered whether I had what it took to stand before people, start conversations and contribute meaningfully to community work. But with every engagement, training and program activity, that confidence grew. Today, I can comfortably engage different communities, listen to their experiences and participate in conversations around issues that matter to them.
One experience that stands out was being entrusted with the responsibility of creating awareness about menstrual health and introducing girls at Mtomondoni to different menstrual products. It was more than simply sharing information. It was an opportunity to create a safe space where girls could ask questions and have open conversations about menstruation.
The experience also made me recognize the important role that men can play in breaking the stigma around menstruation, contributing to efforts to end period poverty and championing gender equality. It reminded me that being an ally sometimes starts with being willing to listen, learn and speak about issues that may traditionally be considered uncomfortable or “women’s issues.”
When Young People Move from Being Heard to Leading
Tuungane has also given me a platform to represent young people and contribute to conversations that directly affect their lives. Through the Kilifi Youth Dialogue, I have had the opportunity to represent the organization in different youth engagements, listen to young people share their experiences and concerns, and contribute to creating spaces where their voices, ideas and aspirations are heard and valued.
Being part of these conversations has changed the way I look at youth participation. I have come to understand that young people do not simply need to be invited into conversations; they need meaningful opportunities to shape those conversations and influence the decisions and solutions that affect their lives.
As the Climate Action Officer, I have experienced this in another way. I coordinate and participate in programs focused on environmental conservation and climate action, including community clean-ups, tree planting and environmental awareness activities.
There is something powerful about watching young people come together around a shared purpose and turn an idea into action. A conversation can become a community clean-up. A commitment to environmental conservation can become a tree planted in a school. An awareness activity can inspire someone to change the way they interact with their environment.
These experiences have shown me that young people are not waiting to become leaders in the future. They are already contributing to solutions today.
Rethinking What It Means to Create Change
My experiences at Tuungane have fundamentally changed how I understand positive social transformation.
I used to think that creating change required significant resources or that it was the responsibility of a few people in positions of leadership. Today, I understand that transformation can begin with something much smaller: creating a safe space for a young person to speak, mobilizing a community to take action, planting a tree or starting a conversation about an issue that people often avoid.
I have also learned that change is not always immediate or easy to measure. Sometimes, the impact is found in a young person gaining the confidence to speak up. Sometimes it is in a community coming together around a shared problem. Sometimes it is simply in helping someone realize that their voice matters.
Being part of these experiences has made me feel more connected to the communities we serve and has helped me see myself differently. I am no longer simply participating in programs. I now see myself as an agent of change; someone who has a role to play in shaping the future of my community.
What makes this experience even more meaningful is being part of a youth-led organization where young people are not only beneficiaries but are trusted to lead, represent the organization and contribute to solutions. It has given me a sense of purpose and the confidence to believe that my voice, skills and actions can contribute to building the kind of communities and future we want to see.
Being part of a youth-led organization means having the opportunity to contribute to the change I want to see while continuously growing and learning. Through Tuungane, I hope to inspire other young people to believe in their dreams, pursue their passions and understand that no beginning is too small.
My message to fellow young people is simple: the dawn of our time is here. It is up to us to rise, take action and build the future we want for ourselves, our communities and generations to come.