Kenya’s Raphael Obonyo has been honoured with the Continental Outstanding Personality of the Year 2019 Award by Jet Age National Builders for his outstanding efforts in promoting youth empowerment in Africa.
Mr. Obonyo is the founder of The Youth Congress, a premier youth organization in Kenya. He has initiated various youth and community development projects.
These include: the Miss Koch Girls Education Initiative (1999), Koch FM (2006), the Youth Congress of Kenya (2007) and the Kenya Youth Media (2011).
Notably, the Youth Congress of Kenya and Kenya Youth Media has trained many young people on entrepreneurship skills, film and journalism. After the training, the initiatives have been facilitating them to access capital to start small businesses. This has realised improved living conditions and reduced poverty levels amongst the youth.
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He was among the awards recipients during the Jet Age Continental Dinner Night and Awards (JACDNA) held at Kigali Marriott Hotel that recognised Individuals, institutions and organizations working for the advancement of the African continent.
The annual event is held to motivate, encourage and make known continental outstanding young African individuals, organisations, pace setters, goal getters, government officials, young political achievers, pillars of nations, SDGs champions, entrepreneurs, innovators, professionals and other distinguished achievers.
The event focuses on identifying and coaching young Africans from communities for national and continental advancement.
Obonyo said the prize is a motivation for him and other youth to do more and do better to continue empowering young people in the continent to define their destiny.
“I am particularly pleased with the reason for the valuation-contribution to youth emancipation in the continent. This is a sign that youth can change the cause of history and decide their future. Thank you Africa. Thank you all for the support” Obonyo said
Jet Age Nation Builders gathers thousands of the world’s best young leaders together to learn to work in synergy for the birth of a peaceful and developing world.
The alumnus of Duke University in the United Stateshas extensive knowledge and experience in public policy, international development, political economy, gender, youth, governance and human rights, and serveson the board of World Bank’s Global Youth Network, Global Diplomatic Forum and Africa Leadership Institute. He’s an alumnus of the UN Habitat’s Youth Advisory Board, Les Aspin Institute of Governance and Leadership and the Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program.
Mr Obonyo is TEDx fellow, and has authored and coauthored numerous books, including the Conversations about the Youth in Kenya.
