Youth Initiatives-Kenya (YIKE) is a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that was established in 2003. YIKE’s main offices are located in Nairobi. The organization proceeded out of an academic research paper on “Role of Youth Groups in Development of their Communities” by the founding members. The organization was therefore established in response to the findings of the study that established that youth groups play a significant role in the development of their communities.

significantly, the study noted that youth in informal settlements enormous potential, but were curtailed from effective engagement in socio-economic development due to poor skills training, lack of access to resources and mentorship. Thus, YIKE was established to assist marginalized and disenfranchised youths to develop initiatives that can generate income to build sustainable socio-economic livelihoods. Over the years, YIKE’s mandate has expanded to cover marginalized orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs), and women discrimination and disenfranchisement from policy, governance, leadership, and decision making processes. YIKE has accomplished significant milestones over the last 14 years.