INTEGRITY AND AYLF

In a society where greed and self-preservation have been sanitized and raised on a high platform, good values to live by become an ever-elusive mirage and the people slump even lower to a point of total desperation. Rules and regulations can only go so far in attempting to correct the situation. In essence, they serve as the hardware of which, without the proper software, they will only be left to gather dust and become a memorial of the good intentions a people once had.

Africa Youth Leadership Forum seeks to bring together a group of young people who share the same values and in the process become a living testimony that we as a people can change and hopefully form societal catalysts for character growth. One of the most critical values that we work around is integrity. For a long time in our country Kenya and Africa at large, we have painfully watched as our leaders use their positions to enrich themselves, ever so often displaying a callous dereliction of their God-given duties. 
Integrity has become so rare in our systems that our children are growing up in a world where the word only exists in a dictionary. They have watched as the few citizens who have tried to live honestly have been ruthlessly punished by a system that seeks to sustain itself by silencing any sane voice that dares to rear its head. Most of us are hardly familiar with the story of one David Munyakei. He did our country great good by whistleblowing on the infamous Goldenberg Scandal. According to the Daily Nation, Saturday, July 25, 2009, he lost his job and would eventually die of pneumonia, largely due to lack of drugs. With all the integrity he had displayed, this man ought to have been treated as a hero. It seemed though that his life got so miserable that he worked very hard to run away from the effects of what he had exposed, including relocating and changing his religion. Such can be the cost of integrity.

Sitting through some of our court sessions, one can’t help but feel like integrity is the main defendant who seems to be losing hard. I appeared in court twice in one week on January 2014 following some traffic violations and at the end of those two sessions, I was convinced that a greater percentage of those in court, especially for the traffic cases, was because they couldn’t bribe.  In some instances, integrity has proved to be a quicker route to prison than criminal activities.

With this backdrop, AYLF works hard to help keep the candle of integrity burning for as long as we can, or until such a time when integrity will be able to stand on its own. We seek to have conversations around this topic, using live examples of how and when we had to bear the brunt of honest living. At the same time, we offer our members a platform to share moments that they failed to uphold the same without being shamed. We have chosen to be our brother’s keepers so to speak.

We agree that even in the darkest moments, a light, however dim, more often than not does exist. There are Kenyans who have espoused a life of integrity for the greater part of their existence. AYLF has connected itself to these people and created a relationship that seeks to have the youth both challenged and encouraged to adopt this kind of living. We have senior friends who have become a valued library of good morals and character development. These friends have become mentors who have chosen to walk with the youth as they pour their golden selves into the ever-growing minds of the youth.

The need for integrity can never be underestimated. Lack of it affects all sectors of our economy. A member of parliament who has been entrusted with distributing education funds through the CDF dishonestly decides to divert the cash to other illegitimate uses. As a result, a student misses their education, they result in crime to cater for their needs, end up in jail where the government has to feed and take care of them. A contractor uses under the table means to win a road construction tender. They have to spend over 60% of the money on paying off their godfathers. They either never finish their work or do so to a substandard level and this leads to accidents, traffic jams, not to mention perennial repairs. I could go on but it is clear that without integrity, we are all stuck in a hamster wheel of poor standards of living for the majority of our people.

As we nurture the new breed of leaders, we hope that they shall be the ones to change the tide for good and make our country and continent the envy of the whole world as it should be.

By Allan Mwangi. 

A BETTER ME FOR A BETTER WORLD

                           

By Robert Nyagah.

Student and AYLF small group member at Multimedia University - Kenya

The first time I heard the theme, it sounded strikingly similar to the lyrics of Michael Jackson’s hit song “Heal the World.” Oddly enough, the message wasn’t too far away from the legend’s inspirational jam. As we went through the whole theme, it broke my heart to pieces, and sewed it back together, tighter and stronger than ever before.

As a result of fully understanding the theme, it has immensely impacted me in all spheres of life; intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually in a profound way. Becoming a better me has taught me how to cultivate qualities that build and empower me, ultimately having a net effect on the world around me. Service beyond self, humility and unconditional love are some truly important qualities that we so often bypass, but are inherently important to constantly practice and behold.

A simple prayer that has made me a better man is to ultimately ask the Almighty Father what my purpose is in life and in this world. It is liberating to know that ultimately, I will do what He wants me to do, go where He wants me to go, and be what He wants me to be. He knows what he wants from us and it is not all about us. It is about Him and His glory. Through this prayer, our purpose manifests, and we realize our greater destiny.

One lesson that transformed my thinking was also the teachings and insights on character. Character is the foundation on which our actions and habits are exercised. It is like our muscles, which need to be strengthened to be powerful and functional in our lives. The only person you could change is yourself, to change the world, and thusly, character is one factor that transforms your life in order to overcome numerous hurdles and obstacles that are bound to happen in life.

In our small discussion groups, we also talked about numerous issues that are affecting us which could be resolved by making ourselves better. A friend from Uganda gave us a fantastic quote that summed it all up, in reference to the lack of courage to stand for what we believe in and fight for it always. “If you are bought for being stupid, then intelligence ceases to matter”. It taught me a crucial lesson in bettering myself. You can never trade what you believe for money or anything else. Your beliefs and values are the blueprint of your life and all challenges can be overcome by the positive force of good.

There are things and people I have had to give up in order to better myself in the process. It is hard to develop and grow if the people you hang around don’t shape your values and mission. I have since made friends with brilliant young men and women and shared experiences that have left me enriched and grateful that I learned this when I needed it the most. This has provided a platform for positive interactions and opportunities, something that we cherish as members of AYLF.

One challenging area in my life that has become lighter is the knowledge that to become a better you, reconciliation with the areas of conflict around you is paramount. Time and again, I held up bitterness and anger that ate me up inside and it was extremely self-destructive. By reconciling my differences with myself, family members and friends I now feel greater peace and I am in a better position to handle disputes in a mature and progressive way.

A better you also require boldness, fearlessness, and determination. To become a better you, always remember that a comfort zone is a good place to be, but nothing grows there. Have you ever seen a beautiful, lush garden with blooming flowers that are captivating and sweet smelling? A lot of work goes into making it that way – weeding, pruning the leaves and constantly watering them so that they may flourish. Your life is like a garden of flowers, you have to weed and prune out the things that derail you, and water yourself with experiences, activities, and people that move you forward.

Jesus is an exemplary leader. He is the centerpiece of our teachings in AYLF. To become a better you and a leader in your life it is crucial that we understand that love is the greatest virtue of all. If you love others, you will be a servant and a friend, just like he exemplified in his life.

Finally, the lessons I learned from this theme will forever be written across my heart they will be a lantern in my journey to the future. Do you want to see a better world? Simple, just be a better you.

FAMILY OF FRIENDS-COMMITMENT TO LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS

“Family isn’t always about the people in your life who are blood relations. It’s about the people in your life who want you to be in theirs. It’s about the people in your life who accept you for who you are, Support you in the things you choose to do and no matter what, are there for you. It’s the people in your life who love you, respect you and who you can depend on. Now that’s family!”

And what else does AYLF offer you than a family of friends? People who care about you, support you and respect you. This is my story:

I joined AYLF in 2014. This was through a friend I had made in High School-Millicent Orondo. I attended the Tuesday meetings then at YMCA and I soon became a small group coordinator for the KU Chapter. This is where all the fun started. We would meet on Thursday evenings at a food outlet where we would share biscuits and soda. We started off less than 5, with a standard deviation of 2(I am sorry my statistics had to come in (lol)We had no agenda but just to know how the week was and get to know each other better. The number soon grew and by the time I was leaving, we were quite a good number, a consistent of 15 members.

How does the family come in? You may wonder. In 2015, I went to Rwanda for 2 months. As a good family member would do, Joshua AKA Josh on hearing this was concerned and introduced me to Jackie Mbabazi an AYLF member from Rwanda. We met in Kigali and this kick-started a friendship which has stood to date. Jackie always called to check on how I was doing. She is definitely one of the sweetest persons you can ever meet and I am glad to call her family. This is just one instance that I can point.

AYLF is that place you can be your real self with no fear of judgment. This safe spot allows you to make friendships that are not just for convenience but are long-term.

We have celebrated marriages between AYLF members.H ow beautiful it is to know that AYLF is that place where one can trust to get the love of their life. That one can trust to be vulnerable and make a deep life-long commitment like marriage. Not only that, AYLF has created an avenue of friends across countries which has bridged the gap, especially Kenya and Uganda, has a special connection I could say.

AYLF even has an investment group. A thought that just started as a joke during one of the Tuesday meetings has now blossomed to serious investment and shareholding. We are all so cautious about our money but friendship melts the fears and this has been the backbone of a successful investment group.

AYLF members will celebrate your birthday with you, attend your graduation, surprise you on your Engagement, be at your bridal shower, come to visit when you get a baby and the list goes on and on. Who else can be that present apart from family?

I can bet each person who has been in AYLF can point out more than one instance that AYLF has played the role of family in their lives. What is your story?

By Mercy Karumba. 

AYLF - A COMMUNITY OF COMPASSION

Most people do not know this but, the very first time I heard of AYLF, I had a lot of doubts about it. You know, when it's your first day in Campus with a mom like mine, she did not have to warn me, because I had an idea of what happens here and so I had promised myself to be extremely cautious with what I got myself into.

Anyway, of course, later on, I did finally say yes. What attracted me first was the traveling part because I am a sucker for a good trip with great people. But more than that, what attracted me more was the aspect of Jesus. At that time, I was struggling with what I believed in but in as much as I was a leader and the fact that AYLF was offering a platform for me to grow, I felt, this was the place for me to regain that relationship, that hope that God was still there for me.

It was not easy because I still made mistakes and many more mistakes but the difference is I had friends who I knew I could count on. Apart from my small group back at Pan Africa Christian University, I enjoy being in the Tuesday small group. Every Tuesday I get to see and meet these amazing people who display nothing but Love. Sometimes I tend to look around when people are busy focusing on the one talking and I smile because as much as they may not see it, these are people who actually care about each other.

We have been told so many times before of how Jesus is Love. In fact, He is the basic definition of Love. And AYLF centers everything around this stand. A friend of mine says, working in the best interest of the other person. And what are relationships, friendships without Love? Without working in the best interest of others?

At a certain point, I remember I was going through some snippet of depression. I was pulling out of all my circles, pretending that I was okay when I actually was not. I started focusing my energy on solving people’s problems when in reality I had a lot of my own that needed to be dealt with. I started getting too busy with everything yet all I was actually doing was running away from my then bitter reality. I was devastated and most of all I hated who I had become and did not think that anyone would want to be associated with me.

Fortunately, or unfortunately for me, I had met this amazing lady at AYLF. So far, she has been like a mother to me, and I say this with utmost sincerity and admiration. She walked with me, reminded me of the greatness and beauty I had within me. Not only her, others too played a great role in my redemption process and I am so privileged to have them in my life.

It made me realize that I had a community of friends who loved me and who were looking out for me. I learned to forgive myself and live in the realization that love truly does cover a multitude of sins, and AYLF was there to remind me of the same. What more could I ask for?

This means that now I too can share the same love and compassion with those around me. That I listen more and give more. Love is definitely also more about calling out our friends when they do something wrong. It proves hard to do sometimes, but if everything we are supposed to do was easy then I think we would all be endeavoring to the values we hold most dear. I have also learned that well, we are not perfect, but with a little love, that is all we need to soldier on. The thing about love is that you do not have to necessarily walk up to someone and tell them you love them; your actions are what will actually scream loudest. That when people see you, they will associate you with someone who is full of Love. Just like Jesus.

By Sharon Chebaibai. 

Communication and Media Student at PAC University.