African youth, especially in areas like Kibera, face challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment, limiting their potential and the need for empowering programs to drive positive community change.
Empowering African Youth Through Faith, Leadership & Innovation
ICY Africa is a network of youth organizations and individuals committed to seeing young people in Africa grow in integrity based on faith, leadership, and practical skills in entrepreneurship and community engagement, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
2004
Started with 20 young people in Kibera, Nairobi
2009
Partnership with high schools, colleges, universities, churches, and governments.
Present
Operating across Southern, East, West, and North Africa with graduates receiving Diploma in Missional Leadership
African youth, especially in areas like Kibera, face challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment, limiting their potential and the need for empowering programs to drive positive community change.
ICY Africa is part of International Christian Youthworks, a global fellowship of youth workers and ministries. Together, we train, network, and resource youth workers to make a lasting impact on young people worldwide.
The Africa programme was initiated in response to the urgent needs of young people in Kibera slum, Nairobi. These youth face a range of challenges, including poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, sexual exploitation, and societal undervaluation. The African Youth Charter defines youth as individuals aged 15 to 35.
Through the programme, young people are empowered with the skills and leadership abilities necessary to bring about meaningful change in their communities. Over the years, the programme has experienced remarkable growth, and its impact continues to expand.
Encouraging young people to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer, scripture, and faith-based living.
Creating strong peer-to-peer mentorship, support, and accountability networks to encourage spiritual and personal growth.
Strengthening the bond between young people and the church, fostering active participation and discipleship.
Inspiring youth to serve and positively impact their local communities through outreach and social action.
LADA is a transformative 7-month leadership journey jointly administered by ICY Africa, Africa for SDGs, and Springdale College (UK).
Q Labs Project—a platform that equips young leaders, church communities, and faith-based institutions to design, incubate, and scale solutions that merge faith, innovation, and social impact.
The Agile Program is a transformative entrepreneurship and personal development initiative designed to cultivate a growth mindset, self-leadership, innovation, and adaptability among students.
Collaborating for Continental Transformation
Real change, measurable results. See how we’re transforming lives and communities across Africa through our Gospel-advancing leadership programs.
Leaders of Leaders
Gospel Advancing Leaders Equipped
Equipped Teens
Teens Who Need Christ Reached
African Countries Reached
Youth Reached Across Africa
Every number represents a life transformed by the Gospel, a leader equipped, and a community changed across Africa.
Youth Empowerment
Both aim to empower youth through values-driven training aligned with the SDGs.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Co-develop community-based learning, with Africa for SDGs shaping formal curriculum, and ICY Africa providing informal, faith-based training.
Global Citizenship
Encourage African youth to think globally and act locally.
Joint Training Manuals
Students Accelerating SDGs Through ESD.
Capacity Building Workshops
SDG Clubs (co-facilitated)
Co-branded SDG Outreach
In schools, churches, and community forums.
LADA Academy
Recruits and certifies future faith-based leaders trained under ICY Africa
Hear from our graduates and see how ICY Africa has impacted lives across the continent.
I am from Kibera. I first heard of ICY through a friend who was a trainer and he challenged me to do the programme. I had other commitments and felt that my own church would be sufficient for my growth. Then my pastor, having been impressed with the programme introduced it to the church and I was encouraged to take part. I did the program and within a year I graduated with a diploma. After two years I lost my job as a shop steward, and as I was in between jobs I was asked to volunteer as a trainer. My involvement with ICY has greatly impacted my life in a very positive way, I use to be shy and timid but through the opportunity presented to me by ICY that fear is slowly fading. I get to travel and meet different people from different background thus changing my world view. I am often challenged by those who come to do mission trips, who give their time to come and help us.
I help out with the administrative part of ICY. I joined the group in 2014 though the friendship that was already established with the director and his family. I mainly assist in the financial management part having graduated with a bachelors in Financial Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology famously known as JKUAT. As an administrator I advise on the best ways of conducting our day-to-day activities while maximizing the minimum resources available to us. ICY has been an experience that I wish I was involved earlier in life due to the various things I have learnt, both spiritually and socially.-