Youth empowerment, gender equality, and social justice are key themes that have shaped the work of Caren Wakoli, the founder of the Emerging Leaders Foundation (ELF). While attending a NEPAD meeting in Addis Ababa 2012, the founder identified the need to increase the rate at which young men and women participate in decision-making spaces.
Growing up, Wakoli saw how poverty, gender inequality, and limited opportunities held back young people, especially women. She saw the resilience of Kenyan women despite their struggles and decided to create a chance for them to prove themselves as potential leaders. She founded the Emerging Leaders Foundation (ELF) in 2012 to do this.
Caren Wakoli’s vision for ELF was to create a platform to nurture ethical leadership among Kenyan youths. She wanted to build a new generation of leaders committed to social justice and governance by giving young people the skills to lead with integrity. ELF’s programs focus on leadership training, mentorship, and civic engagement. Since its inception, it has trained thousands of young leaders, pioneering grassroots projects and social change initiatives across Kenya.
She believes empowering young people through leadership is critical to tackling Kenya’s socio-economic challenges, and she does this through mentorship programs at ELF. The foundation has given countless youths the confidence and skills to lead their communities.
Ikpang Ekpenyong Idongesit, from Abuja, Nigeria, shared how ELF allowed him to expand his career and have a different experience beyond the city of Abuja. After looking for scholarships, internships, and fellowship opportunities, he applied to Princeton in Africa (Fellowship) in October 2022 and received a good response. They sent him a list of possible organisations that met his areas of interest, and among them was Emerging Leaders Foundation-Africa.
“I did my research on the organisations and thought ELF-Africa came close to what I really wanted to do – work with young people,” he says.
He had an online interview with ELF-Africa and was later informed that he had been selected. The move to Kenya for the next 12 months greatly impacted his professional life.
Another thing Caren Wakoli firmly stands for is gender equality. She believes empowering women is critical to creating a just society, making gender equality a core principle at ELF. The organisation’s programs actively promote female leadership, ensuring women are equipped to lead in traditionally male-dominated spaces.
Caren Wakoli impacts thousands of young Africans through ELF
Since its inception, they have trained 3000+ young people, who have, in turn, reached another 200,000 young people across the continent. Their Fellows, in Kenya alone, have started over 100 community initiatives. In 12 years, they have organised 29 cohorts and reached 1,895+ young people directly. Their Alumni group have set up 120+ initiatives, with over 40 young people taking leadership positions. They have up to 11 mentorship connections and have organised over 70 community service projects.
Caren Wakoli’s influence in youth leadership, gender equality, and social justice has empowered countless young people and raised future leaders who can address pressing social issues. As an external trainer for the Kenya School of Government, she trains public servants on Transformative Leadership, Ethics, and Integrity. She also facilitates the Political Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP) for Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).
With over 15 years of experience in youth empowerment work across Kenya and other African countries, the visionary leader and social entrepreneur is a certified leadership coach, trainer, and mentor who finds great joy in mentoring young minds to greatness.
