Youth Development Forum · Nairobi, Kenya

Opportunity for all

We help children and young people in Kibera, Kawangware and other informal settlements break the cycle of poverty through education, skills and opportunity.

Donate now Explore our projects

Who we are

A youth-led force for change

Youth Development Forum (YDF) is a youth-led nonprofit based in Kibera, Nairobi. We give children and young people in Kenya’s informal settlements the education, skills and opportunities they need to build brighter futures.

A future where every child and youth in Kenya’s informal settlements rises above poverty through equal access to quality education, opportunity, and dignity. Our vision

About us Meet the team

Two smiling schoolgirls in navy sweaters and striped ties, one with her arm around the other

Young pupils in purple woolly hats smile at the camera in a narrow lane in Kibera

Our impact

What we’ve achieved together

children educated

200

young people empowered every year

120

scholarships awarded every year

Our work

Projects that change lives

All six projects

A student in a white hard hat writes at her desk during a class

Education

Ushirika School Kibera

Our flagship school gives orphans and vulnerable children in Kibera a safe place to learn, from kindergarten to senior secondary.

716learners enrolled in 2024

Two girls lean in closely to examine a small electronics project

Digital skills

Digital Bridges

A tech hub where children from age 8 learn coding, robotics and AI, with a strong focus on girls.

300+young people trained each year

Young women in black graduation gowns with blue sashes smile in a garden

Women & work

African Women’s Workforce Initiative

A 12-month certificate course that trains young women in hospitality, business and technology, then helps them into work.

30+graduates now working

Success stories

Youth Development Forum has been instrumental in shaping the future of our community. Their dedication to education is truly commendable.

Wilson Aluda

I have witnessed the positive impact of Youth Development Forum’s programs on my child. It’s a life-changing experience that every youth deserves.

Lucky SamuelParent

I am grateful for the opportunities provided by Youth Development Forum. Their commitment to empowering the youth is remarkable.

Susan OwinoBeneficiary

Latest

News & events

All news

Pupils in blue and white uniforms crowd around a table as one assembles a small wooden robot

School news1 June 2024

Ushirika School students explore robotics with DEAN

Pupils at Ushirika School got their first hands-on lesson in robotics, thanks to the Digital Education Africa Network (DEAN).

A smiling boy in a lime green shirt holds a football on a dusty pitch

Article1 November 2023

The role of sport in education

Sport builds discipline, teamwork and good health. Here’s why it belongs at the heart of every school.

Working together

Our collaborators

Get involved

Join us in transforming lives

Donate

Give by M-Pesa or bank transfer to support education, skills and opportunity for young people in Kibera.

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Volunteer

Share your time and skills with the children and young people we work with.

Volunteer with us

Partner

Work with us as a school, business or organisation to reach more young people.

Partner with us