MY AYLF STORY by Allan Mwangi

Arch. Allan Mwangi.

I am a split personality kind of a guy. At least that much I have learnt in the few years I have known me. I can thrive in a crowd and have fun in such but I also enjoy my own company. The scales are tilted towards enjoying my own company though. Good music, internet, and a good laptop are enough to keep me holed up in my bedroom for days on end. This fact is one of the many reasons as to why I’m so glad that I’m a member of the Africa Youth Leadership Forum (AYLF).

My involvement in AYLF started from the very birth of the same in Kenya. I am part of a group of eight that sat down one evening to discuss the status of our country soon after the infamous post-election violence and to work on forging a way forward as regards living with each other peaceably and shunning tribalism. In this meeting, the AYLF idea was introduced by my very best friend Gabriel Achayo, who happened to have visited Uganda and managed to attend the launching of the same.

This means that I have seen the growth of AYLF from those eight people on the first meeting to sixteen people on the second meeting in Ufungamano and the eventual explosion to what we are currently experiencing. All through the process, I had no doubt that we are heading somewhere and the fact that we were all friends trying to be even better friends made it easier for me to engage.

AYLF has grown to be one of the important pillars of my life in line with career, service to God, studies and family in no particular order. It fulfills a need in me that most of the other pillars cannot. The kind of mentorship that we have managed to experience both in receiving and giving is incomparable. Mentorship to me basically means walking with someone in their day to day life and helping them avoid mistakes you probably have already made or know about and being a shoulder to lean on when necessary. There is a lot of potential out there that goes to waste simply because someone did not get a hand to hold them and simply listen to them.

I have not taken up mentees specifically but am happy to see what AYLF has been to my two cousins; Monicah and Monique. I believe that campus life offers us opportunities to carve out a niche for ourselves in life. I know that being in AYLF has made it easier for these two lovely ladies to enjoy life positively and make new friends, friends that ultimately have nothing but good intentions. I see the joy in them and I confirm in a very personal way, that this idea was a noble one.

On the larger scale, the presence of AYLF in the many campuses and the engagement we have with student leaders have been very fruitful. The things we teach them and the values we instill are quite helpful especially due to the fact that most of the students are quite young. I believe that servant leadership and leadership by example - two of the major principles that we extol coupled with following the person of Jesus gives us great chances of affecting leadership in this country, positively so.

My initial commitment to AYLF was as simple as I make every other commitment. I planned to be there. 10 years down the line I can hardly imagine the heights we have climbed. And my commitment remains. I plan to be there.

Africa Youth Leadership Forum (AYLF) …nurturing a new breed of leaders in Africa.

AYLF Uganda gathering 2016

For the past ten years, AYLF continues to whisper in the souls of young leaders in Universities across Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, DR Congo and South Sudan on being better individuals and leaders. We have seen a lot of young people passionate about leadership and making a difference pass through AYLF. We have experienced a lot of growth. Looking back to the first day this journey started, our hearts are filled with gratitude.

As we prepare for this year's End Year Dinner crowning our 10^th Anniversary celebration, we will talk more about this movement. In the next few blogs, you'll be interacting with what makes AYLF what it is. The secret sauce and what has been the AYLF journey.

For starters, AYLF is a collaborative initiative that brings together University Student leaders, students and young professionals across the country; both public and private Universities, for mentorship, training, networking, and capacity building. Our focus is on the Principles and leadership example of Jesus of Nazareth

The AYLF work is done simply in the name of Jesus under the auspices of a national leadership drawn from business, industry, politics, academia, and religion. It's not done under the name of any particular organization or religious group. It relates to all people regardless of their religious affiliation - Christian, Muslim, Hindus, and others. It is anchored in the Values, Principles, Precepts and the Person of Jesus. AYLF flows out of and is based on, long-term committed relationships among those involved.

University Student Leaders training - Kenya

At the heart of AYLF, is the dream that emerging African Leaders would know how to speak the truth without being sectarian or religiously divisive, see people without labels or stereotypes - loving each other and those they lead - while serving with integrity. We aim to be a movement of friends to nurture a new breed of African leaders, based on the leadership qualities, values, and principles of Jesus of Nazareth as exemplified by some of the history's greatest statesmen and women. We seek to appeal to the human spirit to rise and embrace values that enhance a high quality of life to the least of these. Our goal is that Young Leaders embody the values and principles of Jesus.

We desire to see young leaders who commit to the following: high levels of stewardship, high levels of accountability, high levels of productivity, leaders willing to serve others, high levels of collaboration, justice in the community and harmonious living & co-existence.

The values we believe in and keep pushing among those we interact with are Integrity/Honesty, Friendships/Relationships, Reconciliation, Community of compassion, and Faithfulness/Loyalty.

Three main pillars that you experience through our conversations and/or work are Jesus, Leadership, and Friendship. We seek to find common ground in these three as we believe that's the secret of a successful life and leadership. It’s at the point that personal transformation that leads to impact happens.

At AYLF, we believe leadership is being self-aware, having the ability to identify and meet community needs for transformation while inspiring them to exploit their gifts and potential. This is through a commitment to Integrity, Reconciliation, Unconditional, long-term relationships, Service, and having an Impact.

We have seen a lot of the young people who have been part of us rise to positions of influence in political, government, business, media, and religious leadership. This has been a huge motivation in AYLF to continue planting the seeds and engaging the young leaders. As they say, you can only twist a reed when it’s still young. We meet the students at a point when they are looking to count for something, to be part of something bigger than them. AYLF’s role is to plant the seeds, help the young leaders dream, and occasionally help them nurture their dreams and passions. We believe in the philosophy of a better me for a better world. If we focus on helping you become a better person, it’s our belief that you will make the world around you a better place.

AYLF Uganda Gathering 2017

By Gabriel Achayo. 

CARING ABOUT WHAT GOD CARES ABOUT

Image Credit: https://pixshark.com/mother-teresa-quotes-on-humanity.htm

I believe if you care about what God cares about, He will take care of what you care about.

This is quite an easy statement to say but a hard one to live by. We are told seek first the kingdom of God, and all its righteousness and all these things will be added to you. This is as true and plain as it is. No magic around it, no grey areas, no hidden meaning. If you focus on Kingdom business and give it your time, resources and all you got, God will watch out for you. He’ll cover your back. I’d rather have God cover my back than have my own crafted plans be the only cover I have.

Occasionally we get nudges telling us to engage in a Kingdom related issues, but the cares of this world distract us from it. We want to be assured of next meal, a roof over our head, how to take care of our future needs, etc. All these are great and necessary for living a happy life in this world. But if it’s all done at the expense of the kingdom of God, then it’s a waste of time - Like chasing after the wind. If we would choose to focus on Kingdom matters all the things we want, "ALL," will be added to us without any reservation. I have heard of stories of people who gave themselves to advancing the kingdom of God and God took care of the things that they cared about.

Image Credits: http://www.christiantruthcenter.com/focus-on-the-heavenly-the-earthly-will-be-added-unto-you/

What does it mean to focus on the Kingdom of God; to care about what God cares about? It’s about love for humanity. It’s about loving God with all your heart, soul and mind, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. God cares about the poor, the disenfranchised, people who are considered not to belong. God cares for the wellbeing of humanity. 

A story is told of a Good Samaritan who was considered a good neighbor. He demonstrated what it means to love your neighbor as you love yourself. While the others we more concerned with getting to where they really thought they needed to be, the Good Samaritan cared about a fellow human being. He stopped to love on another person whom he didn't know, but he recognized the need at that point. Sometimes all it calls for is to stop and be there for others. Forget about what tomorrow could be and live on the moment, love on the people around you. Start where you find yourself.

As human beings we want to do great things, live a legacy to be remembered. Do something that counts. This sometimes makes us forget the most essential things in life; we ignore the value of humanity as we seek to do great things. We rush over matters that mean a lot to others because we are very much occupied with a faint idea of who we want to be or should be. Is it possible to do great things that show love on humanity?

In everything we find ourselves to do, it’s possible to care about what God cares about. I spent eight years of my life mentoring young men in the slums of Kawangware Gatina. This was something I did with all my heart. My wife can attest to the fact that there were days I would literally break my back to make sure these young men got what they needed. This project which was closed in 2016 also used to make paper gift bags. The young men at no given point saw the connection between the bags they were making and loving their clients. Most cases, they didn't even know these clients so how were they to love them. One thing I kept challenging them is to make the bags as if they were to present them to themselves. Now, this was a challenge because most of them had no much regard for themselves. We could have conversations around dignity, self-worth, loving self, respect for self, holding self in high esteem. We made some progress in this as it became clear to them that at any given point if the bags were not made with love for the client, they would be brought back, and they had to do double work. Either way, they appreciated that they had to make the client happy and they will also be happy. That's another way of showing love to someone else, so you experience love in your heart.

Image Credits: www.agapelovedesigns.com/2013/01/do-small-things-with-great-love.html

Whatever the case, if these young men could relate making bags with loving clients, I believe no one is excluded. No one has an excuse that in their engagement there is no way to love the neighbor. It’s not only limited to your money, though this is also important, it’s also in everything you do. In every occupation, it’s possible to care about what God cares about.

If this resonates with you, seek to care about what God cares about. Look for a small community of friends who you can learn to do this together with. Being accountable to a few and practicing with a few. It’s about building a community of friends to share each other’s efforts to focus on Kingdom related issues. You have to be deeply committed to each other and desire to see each other grow in this journey. You have to create support, encouragement and accountability platform for each other. The community has to be a small as possible so that there is active engagement by all involved.

Find a community around you and see if these conversations make sense to you…  

  Image Credits: http://www.businessmalawi.com

 By Gabriel Achayo. 

Making a Life

Image Credit: http://davidtfagan.com/posters/dont-forget-to-make-a-life

I believe you make a living by what you receive and a life by what you give.

Many times we are trapped in this life to make a living. We do what we can do to get by, to survive another day, another week, another month and so forth. We look for more money; we want to receive what we feel we deserve when we want so we can make a living. We are all focused on what can I get here that will change my living standards or make me better.

All this is right, but in order to make a life, we have to give. We have to give off ourselves, resources, time, etc. We don't have just to receive and receive, but we have to give and keep giving. A freshwater lake is that which has an inlet and an outlet. It's not about what you got but what you give that counts. How you touch and invest in others’ lives. What contribution are you making or willing to make? What value or impact do you have on someone life?

Our significance is not so much on who we are or what we have but on what we give or contribute to design or make a life. Our contribution to make the world around us better is what gives significance. It’s in how we pay it forward, how we impact the lives of those who we come across. A friend of mine gave a story of how he pays it forward. If he helps someone get a deal or a job, instead of receiving the appreciation which most people would like to give a cash appreciation, he asks them to find someone who needs help and give that money to. If all of us did that, some of the problems we face would disappear in a matter of weeks. If we all had this paradigm and chose not to keep receiving but invested in others, we would have a better world for everyone.

Image Credit: http://www.shareyouressays.com/2928/380-words-essay-on-corruption-in-india-free-to-read

Our desire to keep receiving has made us very corrupt. We want to accumulate at the expense of anything. We don't care about others. We have no regard for how people view us so long as we have what we need. A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. You don’t get a good name by receiving and taking everything. I believe you get a good name by giving, investing in others, impacting others, paying it forward as you may call.

I have heard stories of people who worked to greater length to acquire everything they needed. After their death, their children wasted everything they left behind, or there is no peace. This indeed doesn't bring hope to anyone. No one who really cares wants to know that all their life’s effort was wiped out immediately they died or left their family in more conflict. I believe we want a legacy for ourselves and our families. We want our generation and the generation after us to be grateful for what we did and left them with. This is not by greedily acquiring everything but by being generous and impacting the lives of many. It’s also in giving that our family can receive. I have come across people who have succeeded in building a name that works for them and for sure will work for their families. Anyone who mentions that name is treated with great respect because of what the name means to the people who know it. This is what I want. I may not have all the money, silver and gold to give my family and sons the first-class life, but I would instead build a name that will work for them to access and earn all they would want in this life. I'd rather have a son who will be proud to associate with my name and who I am; rather than one that will go to greater length to avoid anything to do with me.

Image Credits: https://ldsbookstore.com/simon-dewey-for-god-so-loved-the-world-print

How are you involved in making a living? Are you just occupied in making a living or do you give room for making a living? This is not about material possessions but also on giving yourself. The whole teachings of Jesus can be summarised into a call upon us to give ourselves to something bigger than us, the people around us, and the world. This is the essence of love. For God so loved the world that He gave, not took! He gave the most precious gift of all.

If you were to give something now, what would that be? How would you go about it? Who would you give to? Start where you are. Be a follower of Jesus by giving to an individual, your family, your team, your organization and your community.

If this resonates with you, seek to make a life rather than making a living. Look for a small community of friends who you can learn to do this together with. Being accountable to a few and practicing with a few. It’s about building a community of friends to share each other’s journey of impacting lives.  You have to be deeply committed to each other and desire to see each other grow in this journey. You have to create support, encouragement and accountability platform for each other. The community has to be a small as possible so that there is active engagement by all involved.

Find a community around you and see if these conversations make sense to you.

Image Credits: http://www.businessmalawi.com

By Gabriel Achayo