Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders
East Africa is home to one of the youngest populations on Earth — and GDP is rising to meet that moment. Quarterly summits, mentorship programs, and 11 centres shaping tomorrow’s change-makers today.
Inspiring the Next
Generation of Leaders
East Africa is home to one of the youngest populations on Earth — and GDP is rising to meet that moment. Quarterly summits, mentorship programs, and 12 centres shaping tomorrow’s change-makers today.
“We are planting the seeds for a brighter tomorrow, one empowered young person at a time.”
GDP’s Vision for Inspiring, Connecting, and Equipping the Youth
East Africa is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with over 60% of its people under the age of 25. Yet this vibrant youth demographic faces significant challenges including high unemployment, limited access to quality education, and social barriers that stifle their potential.
According to the International Labor Organization, youth unemployment in East Africa can reach as high as 25%, leaving many young people vulnerable to poverty and marginalization. The need for youth empowerment has never been clearer — these young minds are not just the future, they are the key to unlocking lasting change across the region.
The Global Development Project (GDP) is rising to meet this need head-on with dynamic programs designed to inspire, connect, and equip young people for success. Central to this effort are the quarterly Youth Empowerment Summits held throughout Kenya, where hundreds of youth from diverse backgrounds come together to learn, collaborate, and grow.
“We’re building brighter futures — one empowered young person at a time.”
GDP’s Vision for Inspiring, Connecting, and Equipping the Youth
East Africa is home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with over 60% of its people under the age of 25. Yet, this vibrant youth demographic faces significant challenges including high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education, and social barriers that stifle their potential.
According to the International Labor Organization, youth unemployment in East Africa can reach as high as 25%, leaving many young people vulnerable to poverty and marginalization. The urgent need for youth empowerment initiatives has never been clearer — these young minds are not just the future, they are the key to unlocking lasting change across the region.
The Global Development Project (GDP) is rising to meet this need head-on with dynamic programs designed to inspire, connect, and equip young people for success. Central to this effort are the quarterly Youth Empowerment Summits held throughout Kenya, where hundreds of youth from diverse backgrounds come together to learn, collaborate, and grow.
These summits are more than just events — they are lively, interactive spaces where young people share experiences, uplift one another, laugh, and build lasting friendships across cultures. By fostering a supportive community, GDP empowers youth to develop leadership skills, embrace innovation, and become agents of positive change in their own communities.
centres across Kenya
held every year
GDP is working to change
work across East Africa
World Changers
Every quarter, hundreds of young people pack into community centres across Nairobi — some on borrowed plastic chairs, some standing three-deep along the walls — for the World Changers Youth Summit. It’s where GDP’s leadership pipeline becomes visible: the same youth GDP has walked alongside since childhood, now leading worship, running small groups, and taking the mic themselves.
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01
Youth-Led Momentum
Teens and young adults from GDP’s own centres serve as emcees, mentors, and small-group leaders — not just attendees.
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02
Cross-Generational Partnership
GDP Director Michael Wright teaches seminars live by video call from the U.S., co-leading sessions in real time with staff on the ground in Kenya — the same partnership GDP has practiced since 1991.
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03
Community-Rooted Venues
Summits happen inside the neighborhoods GDP already serves, like Kawangware — meeting youth where they are rather than pulling them away.
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04
Identity Before Achievement
Grounded in scripture, the summit teaches young people who they are before it teaches them what to do.
Our Youth Initiatives
Quarterly Youth Empowerment Summits
Hundreds of youth from across Kenya gather four times a year to learn, collaborate, and build networks that last a lifetime.
World Changers Youth Summit
The flagship gathering under GDP’s youth banner — youth-led, community-rooted, and built to turn young people into the leaders of their own neighborhoods.
11 Leadership Centres
Strategically located across Kenya, GDP’s leadership centres serve as permanent hubs for mentorship and community organizing year-round.
Mentorship & Life Skills Training
One-on-one and group mentorship paired with practical training in financial literacy, conflict resolution, and communication.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Young people are guided from idea to implementation with business development support and access to micro-finance pathways.
GDP Scholarship Pipeline
High-potential youth identified through leadership centres are connected to the Evelyn S. Weatherspoon Scholarship Fund.
Our Youth Initiatives
From quarterly summits to year-round mentorship, every initiative is designed to build leaders from the ground up.
Youth Stories & Field Reports
Watch our 2025 story — youth, hope, and the work that makes it possible.
GDP — More Than a Trip – GDP Wants to Make a Difference
11 Leadership Centres Across East Africa
Be Part of the Movement
The youth we engage with today are the leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries of tomorrow. Every gift, every volunteer hour, every missions trip shows up in a real young life in East Africa today.
The youth we engage with today are the leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries of tomorrow. Every gift, every volunteer hour, every missions trip — it all shows up in a real young life in East Africa today.
