By Sheila Kamau:
A year ago, Youth Educated walked through the gates of Drumvale Secondary School with a curriculum in hand and a mission in mind: to deliver a bold, relevant, and respectful youth programme under the banner of Educated Futures Programme. What stood before us was a cohort of students who were curious while, understandably, cautious. A new “Guidance and Counselling” initiative often carries with it the baggage of assumption. Why should they trust it? Why should they trust us?
And yet, they showed up. That was the first step.
In the opening weeks, silence often echoed louder than questions. Participation was minimal. The idea of group discussion or role play felt unfamiliar, even uncomfortable. But we were not there to instruct from the front of the room. We were there to listen, to build, and to earn the trust of the young people we serve.
We listened more than we spoke. We created space before filling it. Gradually, trust was built. By the end of Term 1, we witnessed a shift: students weren’t just attending because they were required to, they were showing up because they wanted to. They began asking thoughtful questions, staying behind after class, and reflecting aloud on how their thinking was changing.
Over three terms, our first cohort of 150 students moved from passive listeners to active participants. They explored themes of gender, identity, decision-making, relationships,power, sexual and reproductive health with openness and increasing confidence. The very tools we had hoped to share; critical thinking, self-awareness, emotional resilience, were being used in real time.
We saw this not only in session feedback, but in the students’ words:
“You helped me become someone better through your encouragement, career events, and the fun moments we shared.”
“I learnt new things that I will carry with me.”
“Thank you for helping us with life skills.”
These were more than thank-you notes. They were markers of transformation. They signalled the quiet but powerful impact of a programme rooted in care, structure, and shared humanity.
At Youth Educated, we know that change is not always visible at the moment. It does not always come in loud declarations or immediate outcomes. Sometimes, it takes the form of a student pulling a chair closer and saying, “Can we talk?” Sometimes, it’s the courage to show up again next week.
As we mark one year of Educated Futures at Drumvale, we do so not with a sense of completion, but with deepened conviction. Our second cohort has already begun, and we bring to it stronger tools, richer insight, and an even firmer partnership with the school and wider community.
Youth Educated is not here to deliver top-down solutions. We are here to co-create environments where young people can ask bold questions, explore complex realities, and grow into adulthood with clarity and confidence. We do not claim to have all the answers. What we offer is presence, structure, and respect.
To Cohort 1, thank you for trusting us. You’ve affirmed the belief that a journey of a thousand miles truly does begin with a single step. We are proud to have taken it with you—and even prouder to keep walking.
Explore the Impact
📘 Read the Educated Futures Programme (EFP) Report
🎓 Listen to Stories from Our Cohort 1 Graduates
📊 Read the Career Day Impact Report
🎥 Watch Career Day Highlights
📩 For partnerships or detailed findings, contact us at info@youtheducated.org
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