In a small, white-walled corridor office at the Kenya Red
Cross Head Offices in Nairobi, Alex Ayub, a young, self-educated Programme
Management and Youth Development expert, works on a concept note for a new
youth health program in Kenya. “As a young person myself, designing and
implementing high-impact programmes for children and youth has been my daily
driver for the last 11 years.” Alex reflects with sparkling
determination.

Born and raised in a small pastoralist town in Northern
Kenya, Alex’s journey into the humanitarian development world was anything but
conventional. “I grew up watching my mum volunteer as a house-matron, to take
care of children with hearing impairment at the Isiolo School for the Deaf, as
it was known back then,” he recalls. With this lived-experience, Alex pursued
his dreams, driven by the desire to understand community needs, and find
solutions to them.

Upon completing primary school, Alex earned a secondary
school scholarship where he graduated with excellent grades, allowing him to
get government admission into university. He went ahead to pursue a Bachelors’
Degree in Law, while volunteering with Kenya Red Cross Nairobi Branch. Here, he
gathered an in-depth understanding of not only the socio-economic aspects of a
community, but also the political facets that determine community development.
He quickly became a community team leader, and community facilitator on various topics including Humanitarian Principles, Road Safety, Disaster Risk Reduction among others.

But Alex’s work extends beyond community level work. In 2019, he was tasked with the responsibility of helping the organization establish a Youth Development Department. As the only staff back then, with no funds and human resource, Alex embarked on a building journey that has seen Kenya Red Cross recognised and acknowledged as the leading African National Society with the best Youth Department, embodying the best approaches to youth programming and empowerment.

Today, the Youth Department at Kenya Red Cross has implemented over 15 programs, employed over 14 youth project officers, and manages a funding portfolio from both Movement and Non-Movement Partners, of over Kshs. 200,000,0000 (about USD 1.5 million). He has led the establishment of 25 youth resource centres across the country, onboarding 21 county youth officers, and is the Program Manager across 8 projects funded by USAID, EU, UN, IFRC, French Development Agency (AFD), Mastercard Foundation, Danish Red Cross, British Red Cross and Italian Red Cross. These programs range from youth economic empowerment, climate action, health, peace building, governance and leadership. The programmes embed innovation and sports for development in their approaches.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In the last 5 years, he
has been requested by various African Organisations to support the
establishment of Youth Programmes in their countries. These include Uganda,
Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Zambia, Malawi and South Sudan. “Seeing many more countries mainstreaming youth programs in their work gives me a strong desire to keep going,” Alex asserts with a smile.

As Alex continues to inspire the youthful continent of Africa through his ideas and work, he remains committed to his mission of transforming communities through strategic leadership and community-centred development. “Africa is the world’s youngest continent today, and if well tapped, has the potential to bring solutions to global problems, today, and in the future.” He asserts.

With several upcoming projects and initiatives, Alex’s journey is far from over. The vibrant ideas of his future are yet to be tapped, with each day promising a more just, inclusive and equitable world for all.