7 years, 13K interviews

OUR PROGRAMS

One of the World's Best Media For Social Change Organisation

Leveraging the superpower of story to break barriers through norm-changing media

At Shujaaz Inc, we believe that when young people take control of their lives, they create transformational change. But in East Africa today, too many young people are locked out of the decisions and systems that shape their lives, from the economy and politics to healthcare and education. 

That’s why every Shujaaz Inc programme is designed to put knowledge, tools, and platforms in the hands of young people so they can lead change in their communities. Together with our partners, we’re changing norms and behaviours, driving economic, social and climate justice from the ground up.We combine trusted media with grassroots activation. Real-world research with lived experience. Bold partnerships with evidence-backed impact. 

Shujaaz media connects young people with the knowledge, self-belief and inspiration they need to imagine the future they want and the support to make it happen. We call it the superpower of story, and it works. Our digital users earn $21 more a month than non-fans and they’re 43% more likely to use condoms. Urban teenage girls in our network are 2.7x less likely to get married in their teens and 2.4x more likely to choose to delay childbirth, than their peers.

Distributed and activated by our network of over 3000+ on-ground and online SuperFans, our media reaches 60-70% of 15-24-year-olds in Kenya. Founded in 2009 , Shujaaz is now one of East Africa’s biggest youth brands and one of the world’s most successful media for social change programmes. In a world that too often leaves young people feeling powerless, Shujaaz media helps young people to take control.

 

OUR THEMATIC FOCUS AREAS

Sex and Relationships (SRH)

“My cousin was 14 when she had her first child. My mum was 12. I thought ‘No, I refuse to let my future be like that” Powered by Gates Foundation, Family Planning, we focus on creating social justice and gender equality. We do this by sparking open, taboo-breaking conversations on sex and relationships, equipping young people especially girls with the knowledge to take control and inform policies that respect young people’s agency.

Sex and Relationships (SRH)

Girls' Agency & Gender Justice

“I have the confidence to tell my female friends to stay safe.” Powered by Co-Impact, Echidna Giving, GNLA, Wellspring and Imaginable Futures, we focus on social justice and economic justice. Our programs build self-belief and agency through relatable, role-model-led stories, tackle gendered barriers to independence, support girls to reimagine their futures and demand their rights and encourage conversations on positive masculinity.

Girls' Agency & Gender Justice

Income & Work

“My family depends on me. I wake up every morning and go to work to place food on the table, since my parents have no work.” Powered by Agency Fund, Umsizi, IKEA FOUNDATION we focus on creating economic justice. We equip young people with the skills and mindset to hustle on their own terms, offer practical learning through our content and on-ground Shujaaz fan clubs and events to challenge the system that locks youth out of income and capital

Income & Work

Governance & Youth Voice

“If you’re telling a 50-year-old person to talk about the issues that are affecting a youth at 18, it doesn’t make sense!” Powered by partners like Hewlett, USAID,e.t.c, our programs focus on creating social justice. We turn governance into something young people feel ownership over, support youth-led organisations and civic action, and Influence policy with data that reflects lived realities

Governance & Youth Voice

Agriculture, Climate & Youth Livelihoods

“This time round we’ve had a lot of challenges. Drought has affected us greatly as farmers...” With partners like One Acre Fund, ILRI, Grameen Foundation, we focus on Climate Justice and Economic Justice. We co-design Agri-focused content that speaks directly to rural youth, build pathways into green livelihoods, shift the climate conversation from risk to opportunity and contextualize what climate action looks like for East African Youth via research.

Agriculture, Climate & Youth Livelihoods

Mental Health and Wellbeing

“They (young people) don’t have the conversations on mental health because they feel like they are weak.” In partnership with Dalberg Design and Shamiri Institute, we're focused on creating Social Justice and wellbeing. We break the silence on youth mental health through bold storytelling, surface the invisible struggles shaping young lives and create spaces for healing, support and visibility.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Digital fans in our network are taking control:

They earn $21 more a month than non-fans

Digital fans in our network are taking control:

They are 43% more likely to use condoms than non-fans

Our network creates:

$10 in value for every $1 we spend

Urban teenage girls in our network are taking control:

They are 2.7x less likely to marry in their teens than non-fans

Urban teenage girls in our network are taking control:

They are 2.4x more likely to delay childbirth

YOUNG & KENYAN:
7 YEARS, 13,000 INTERVIEWS WITH KENYA’S MOST IMPORTANT GENERATION

An essential guide to the trends that will shape their future.

Check-out our new data visualisation report to understand the big trends that are shaping this crucial generation’s future. If you’re designing policies, programmes or products for young people – this is for you.

Explore the report

TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE CREATE WORLD-LEADING IMPACT

More About Our Partners