Youth Anti FGM Network Kenya (YANK)

Advocacy – Youth Voices Driving Policy and Accountability At the heart of YANK’s mission is a refusal to let young people be sidelined. Advocacy is not just about raising voices; it is about ensuring those voices shape policy, community priorities, and national strategies. Our county chapters act as advocacy engines tracking county-level commitments, drafting shadow reports, and lobbying for legislation to end FGM, child marriage, and GBV. Through this, youth are not passive participants but active watchdogs of accountability. YANK’s involvement in processes like the Narok Anti-FGM Policy and county steering committees shows how grassroots momentum can influence real policy outcomes.

Capacity Building – Equipping the Next Generation of Movement Leaders Movements collapse when energy is not matched with skill. YANK invests in building the leadership, technical, and organizational capacities of youth activists so they can sustain the struggle. Through mentorship programs, leadership bootcamps, and training on advocacy, social change communication, and resource mobilization, we transform passion into impact. Recognition of 22 youth champions by the President during the Generation Equality campaign is not just a milestone it is proof that when young people are equipped, they can stand at the highest levels of leadership and advocacy.

Knowledge Sharing – From Grassroots Lessons to National and Pan-African Platforms Too often, local solutions remain invisible. YANK exists to change that by creating pathways where grassroots lessons inform national strategies and continental agendas. Through the YANK Knowledge Exchange digital platforms, community convenings, and Pan-African forums we capture what works in villages and counties and elevate it to spaces where decisions are made. From Samburu’s sub-county mechanisms to university student councils, we amplify the wisdom of the grassroots. Knowledge sharing for us is not a one-off event but a living network where evidence fuels stronger, smarter interventions.

Innovation – Reimagining Solutions for a New Generation Ending FGM requires creativity, not repetition. YANK harnesses the ingenuity of young people to design bold approaches that resonate with their peers. Whether through digital campaigns that reach tens of thousands online, gamified learning tools, or community-led storytelling, we turn innovation into a weapon for social change. Innovation keeps the movement alive, relevant, and deeply connected to the realities of Gen Z.

Coalition Building – Uniting Youth Voices into a Powerful Force No single youth, chapter, or organization can end FGM alone. Our strength lies in collective action. YANK functions as a coalition of grassroots youth voices CBOs, NGOs, student leaders, and activists spanning 22 hotspot counties. By bringing these diverse actors together under one banner, we create a force too strong to ignore. Coalition building allows us to move beyond isolated projects and build a movement grounded in solidarity, shared values, and mutual accountability. It ensures that the fight to end FGM is not fragmented, but unified, youth-led, and relentless.