Future Leaders Connect programme is a global network for emerging policy leaders which enables the most outstanding young leaders (aged 18-35 years) from around the world to develop their policy expertise, make valuable connections and discuss major contemporary global policy challenges with global leaders and influencers. The programme is geared towards shaping the next generation of policy makers and leaders in Kenya and globally. Working with Cambridge University, the programme has developed an advanced learning and development programme which focuses on policy leadership skills, supporting members with the ability to act on their vision for policy change.
Each year, 50 selected members of Future Leaders Connect from across the globe travel to the UK and are linked to the UK Houses of Parliament through an immersive conference, learning from today’s decision makers. They see effective policy making first hand and discuss the most significant global issues facing the next generation globally. They also connect to some of the UK’s world leading institutions and attend private meetings with inspiring leaders and policymakers.
Participants are engaged into the long-term through a digital network, supporting each other to work towards their policy change action plans, benefiting from on-going trainings and opportunities in their home country and beyond.
FUTURE LEADERS CONNECT WINNERS POLICY IDEAS AND PROFILES
Young leaders compete to change the world in six minutes.
- Eight young people from Kenya are expected in six minutes to explain how their policy idea could make the world a better place, as they compete for a spot on the British Council’s prestigious Future Leaders Connect programme.
- Winners will travel to the UK to undergo advanced leadership training at the Møller Institute, University of Cambridge and will meet with British MPs and inspirational global leaders.
- Previous winners have debated with former UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon and presented their policy ideas at 10 Downing Street.
- Contestants and winners will join a global network of leaders who will create positive change through effective policy making.
Eight young people from Kenya had just six minutes to persuade a panel of judges how their ideas could make their country and the world a better place.
List of Future Leaders Connect Winners
- Sharon Adhiambo
Sharon is a Public Sector Economist, skilled in Development Planning as well as Budget Formulation and Analysis. Her policy idea is on ‘Mitigating Teenage Pregnancies to Accord girls a Second Chance at Life’.
2. Alphaxrd Gitau Ndungu
Alphaxrd is a Young Farmer and a master’s student at the University of Nairobi taking Research and Public Policy with a focus on Agricultural Policy. Being Passionate about Food security and the role played by Farmer organizations in addressing farmers issues, his policy idea seeks to achieve food security by empowering farmer organizations as a vehicle that can address critical issues that are faced by farmers who are primary stakeholders in the food security agenda.
3. Faith Nafula Wafula
Nafula is a fierce advocate for gender equality and human rights and is passionate about Pan-Africanism and social justice. She is currently the Vice Chairperson for Policy and Advocacy at the Commonwealth Youth Council. Her policy idea calls for the provision of inclusive, equitable education for all, not impeded by harassment, violence or abuse through incorporation of SRGBV into national policies and action and recognizing the need for prevention, responses to mitigate against impact, and accountability.
4. Dr Phyllis Maina
Dr Phyllis M. Maina works with the government as a Medical Officer of Health in a remote rural community in semi-arid parts of Laikipia North in Kenya. Phyllis accepted a posting to the rural community determined to transform the lives of the disadvantaged pastoralist Maasai community who live in Laikipia North where she has used her position create awareness among men to understand the need to let their wives access health care and in so doing led to improved maternal child health services in the county. Her policy idea is around community based primary health care.
They are competing for places on Future Leaders Connect, a major initiative run by the British Council – the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. The prestigious programme aims to develop the next generation of globally connected leaders who will create positive change through effective policy making.
Fifty winners, selected from more than 15,000 applications around the world, will travel to the UK in October to undergo advanced leadership training at the Møller Institute, University of Cambridge. They will meet with British MPs at the Houses of Parliament and other international leaders to discuss their policy ideas.
In 2017 and 2018, young applicants globally chose access to education as their most important policy area. Other top issues highlighted were sustainability, climate change and the environment, and youth opportunities.
In previous years, Future Leaders Connect participants have debated peace and education with former UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon, and presented their policy ideas at 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s residence.
Young competitors at the TED-X event at the University of Nairobi auditorium on August 8, 2019 will each give a six-minute speech explaining their policy idea, what impact it could have and why they are the right person to lead the change they envisage. More than 1300 young people from Kenya applied to join the global network of emerging policy leaders.
Twelve countries are participating in Future Leaders Connect: Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Tunisia, USA, plus the four nations of the UK: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sir Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: “An international outlook is vital for future leaders of all countries to understand and overcome the challenges our changing world presents.
“Future Leaders Connect supports the next generation of leaders to develop policy skills and build international contacts that will enable them to create positive change across the world. We’ve already seen previous participants make an impact in mentoring young people who are in schools and supporting them to prepare for the challenges of life after their education, and I have no doubt that this year’s cohort will be just as committed to tackling the global challenges we face today. I look forward to welcoming Kenya’s winners to London in October.”
Tim Kipchumba, a member of the pioneer group of 2017 Future Leaders Connect programme says the knowledge and networking gained has given him a great impetus to some of his ideas of working and supporting young people through his mentorthon programme.
“The British Council Future Leaders Connect programme is about young people taking action to bring change in their communities. I’ve been involved in a research with Strathmore Business School which looks at the motivations for young people who were involved in the post-election violence in the country in 2007.”
“As part of my work in the mentorthon programme where we mentor young people, and the programme added more impetus and clarity to at mentorthon. In 2020, we plan to extend our programme to reach 40,000 students at risk working with over 300 role models and scores of partners with the aim of reaching over 300 schools to increase young people’s self-belief.”
Future Leaders Connect is a long-term network of emerging policy leaders made up of exceptional individuals aged 18-35 from around the world. Members of the network are given the opportunity to develop their policy making expertise, make valuable connections and gain the skills to have real impact.
Programme in numbers
- Since launching in 2017, there have been about 42,000 applications to the programme globally.
- 12 participating countries: Canada, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tunisia, UK, and USA.
- Globally, almost 11,000 people applied to join Future Leaders Connect in 2017, almost 16,000 applied in 2018 and over 15,000 applied in 2019.
- 50 members nominated to join the programme each year globally.
- Over 1,300 young people from Kenya applied to join the global network of emerging policy leaders in 2019.
- Out of the total applications in Kenya, top 30 applicants were interviewed, out of which eight were selected as the finalists. Finalists competed for the four slots available to represent Kenya in the third cohort of the programme.
2019 policy thematic areas
The thematic areas for the top eight candidates are:
- Gender equality and advocacy
- Healthcare
- Adolescent pregnancy
- Sexual and gender-based violence
- Energy
- Political campaign financing
- Maternal health
- Food security
Future Leades Connect 2019 programme candidates
- Sharon Adhiambo
Sharon is a Public Sector Economist, skilled in Development Planning as well as Budget Formulation and Analysis. Her policy idea is on ‘Mitigating Teenage Pregnancies to Accord girls a Second Chance at Life’.
- Philip Nyakundi Gichana
Philip is a graduate of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) with an LLB in Law and a post Graduate Diploma from Kenya School of Law. Philip’s policy idea is on Regulation of Campaign financing, in so doing, he believes we will be offering youth and women a level playing field to compete in elections in Kenya that continue becoming expensive after each cycle.
- Mark Gachagua
For the last eight years, Mark has been involved in designing and implementing evidence-based programs for young people (10-24). His areas of focus have been adolescent & women’s Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. His policy idea is on advocating for the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of young people.
- Alphaxrd Gitau Ndungu
Alphaxrd is a Young Farmer and a master’s student at the University of Nairobi taking Research and Public Policy with a focus on Agricultural Policy. Being Passionate about Food security and the role played by Farmer organizations in addressing farmers issues, his policy idea seeks to achieve food security by empowering farmer organizations as a vehicle that can address critical issues that are faced by farmers who are primary stakeholders in the food security agenda.
- Dr Phyllis Maina
Dr Phyllis M. Maina works with the government as a Medical Officer of Health in a remote rural community in semi-arid parts of Laikipia North in Kenya. Phyllis accepted a posting to the rural community determined to transform the lives of the disadvantaged pastoralist Maasai community who live in Laikipia North where she has used her position create awareness among men to understand the need to let their wives access health care and in so doing led to improved maternal child health services in the county. Her policy idea is around community based primary health care.
- Faith Nafula Wafula
Nafula is a fierce advocate for gender equality and human rights and is passionate about Pan-Africanism and social justice. She is currently the Vice Chairperson for Policy and Advocacy at the Commonwealth Youth Council. Her policy idea calls for the provision of inclusive, equitable education for all, not impeded by harassment, violence or abuse through incorporation of SRGBV into national policies and action and recognizing the need for prevention, responses to mitigate against impact, and accountability.
- Sharize Odongo
Sharize is an International affairs scholar and SDGs youth advocate. Self-driven leader that is passionate about policymaking, advocacy, humanity, development and good governance especially in Africa.
Her policy idea is in establishment of rescue centers in Kenya for FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) victims that are well funded by the government.
- Zilper Michelle Abong’o
Zilper works with Kenya Pipeline Company as a Customer Relations & Marketing Manager where she has become Public-Private Sector expert in policy and market systems. Zilper has experience in Integrated Oil & Gas supply, trading and logistics experience across the Great Lakes Region. Her Policy Idea is on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) infrastructure funding to increase its use in Kenya
British Council research found that people who have were involved in cultural relations – arts, education and English language activities – with the UK have greater trust in people from the UK.
A separate study by the British Council in 2014 found that one in ten world leaders had studied in the UK.
