Kenya’s number 1 student, Tom Wanderi King’ori (left), and principal Mr. David Gideon Kariuki, surrounded by other students from Alliance High School celebrate the school’s outstanding performance.

The Global Peace Foundation reported four high schools implementing the Foundation’s Character and Creativity Initiative (CCI) ranked among the top 10 in the nation. The results of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam were released on March 3, 2014 by the Kenya’s Ministry of Education. According to the Standard Digital, Alliance High School was ranked first.  Tom Wanderi King’ori, from Alliance High School, was Kenya’s highest ranking student. Mr. David Gideon, principal of Alliance High School, serves as a member of the CCI National Advisory Council. Remaining six CCI schools also ranked highly, with mean grades of B and above.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education is an examination for fourth form students prior to entry into higher education. Students are tested in several subjects ranging from English, Swahili, Mathematics, and History, to Agriculture, Music, and Business. Exams begin in October and conclude in December. The results determine the student’s eligibility for higher education.

The March results showed Alliance High as number 1 in the country with a mean of A – (81.783). Maryhill Girls High School ranked second highest girls school in Kenya with a mean grade of A- (76.826). Kenya High School ranked third highest with a mean of A- (76.030). Nairobi School was ninth strongest boys school with a mean of A- (75.6). Starehe Girls Centre was the ninth strongest girls school with a mean of B+ (73.418).

Prof. Jacob T. Kaimenyi, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology commented, “I am pleased with the work of Character and Creativity Initiative for their collaboration to increase collective impact in changing school culture for greater results,” according to the Global Peace Foundation story. He continued, “Culture drives excellence! The change of institutional culture of under-achievement and indiscipline in our institutions of learning is crucial in creating a transformative culture of ethics and excellence.”

The Character and Creativity Initiative strives for school wide cultural transformation to focus on nurturing ethics and creativity in high school youth. This is in line with providing twenty-first century employment skills. Last year the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) issued a 3 year evaluation of school performance factors that included academic performance, school climate, student and teacher satisfaction, and student discipline. The results showed marked improvement in all areas for CCI schools. Many CCI schools reported underachievement and discipline problems prior to implementing the program.

The Character and Creativity Program has expanded to Nigeria, Uganda, Paraguay, Brazil, Malaysia, Nepal, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Nairobi and Kiambu Counties in Kenya.

For the original story visit: www.globalpeace.org

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The following video is a 2013 Global Peace Convention speech delivered by Dr. Manilal Chandaria held at the Shangri La Hotel, Malaysia.

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“One moment there had been nothing but darkness; next moment a thousand, thousand points of light leaped out.” CS Lewis, Magician’s Nephew

“One moment there had been nothing but darkness; next moment a thousand, thousand points of light leaped out.” CS Lewis, Magician’s Nephew attribution: Michael J. Bennett

In his 1988 acceptance speech, President George Bush Sr., made this image famous when he likened volunteers in the United States to “stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.”

Indeed, in the darkest times unexpected light springs out and multiplies to illuminate the sky. Each star has their journey by which their light is nurtured and debuted in those pivotal moments.

A recent story published by the Sunday Standard featuring the Global Peace Foundation –Kenya Country Director, Daniel Juma recounts one point of light’s story.

Juma traces his passion for peace to Korea. During his eleven year career with the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), Juma came across Saemaeul Undong (The New Village Movement), a movement in Korea during the 60s that brought solidarity to all parts of Korea for national development. Saemaeul Undong is sometimes credited for the Miracle of the Han River, Korea’s remarkable rise from a developing to developed country in less than 50 years, For Juma, Saemaeul Undong was a glimpse into his country’s potential, if his countrymen could rally around a common vision, regardless of tribe, national origin, or socioeconomic status.

In 2008, the post-election violence of 2007-08 left Kenya in darkness. Homes were destroyed, lives were taken, and families and communities were divided.  In the summer of 2008, the Global Peace Foundation and its partners organized a massive clean-up of the Nairobi River. In the mix was Juma and “his fellow young volunteers”.

Mr. Daniel Juma Ormondi shares best practices that have emerged in Kenya at the morning plenary session at the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta.

Juma tells the Standard, “Ours was a social activity meant to have young people work together as a gesture of unity.” Five years later, according to the Standard, the river is picturesque with walkways, trees and flowing water. And Juma? He’s still calling youth out to clean together, from the streets of Kairobangi, to the courtyards of their schools.

For Juma, he was just beginning. In 2010 GPF-Kenya was established with philanthropist and businessman Dr. Manu Chandaria as its patron. Kenya won the bid to host the 2010 Global Peace Convention, of which President Kibaki became patron. The convention brought Dr. Moon, founder and Chairman GPF, who urged Africa to seize the opportunity to become a leader of a new era of development and peace. Juma recounts that it was “a providential sequence of events for Kenya.”

The GPC 2010 launched multiple groundbreaking initiatives such as the Character and Creativity Initiative that has transformed school culture in secondary schools across Nairobi, the Rift Valley Peace Initiative that has brought together tribes from the ruins of the post-election violence together to build community driven development projects like the All-Lights Village initiative.

Last year Juma was appointed country director of Global Peace Foundation Kenya at the Global Peace Convention 2012. In a few weeks, Juma will be speaking at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Nigeria.

Like a thousand points of light, unsung heroes like Juma have burst from darkness to illuminate the way for East Africa and Africa.

Read the full feature piece on Daniel Juma from the Sunday Standard.

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Top: (left) H.E. Mwai Kibaki, former President of Kenya and Dr. Hyun Jin Moon during GPC 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya. (bottom) Principal sponsors at the release of KIPRA’s CCI report, (left to right) Mrs. Mary Kimonye, CFO, Brand Kenya Board; Prof. Leah Marangu, Chairperson, Character and Creativity Council; Dr. Manu Chandaria, Corporate Sponsor and GPF special advisor; Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi, Cabinet Secretary for Education; and Mr. Daniel Juma, Executive Director, GPF-Kenya.

The Character and Creativity Initiative (CCI) has expanded to Uganda and Nigeria. CCI was first adopted in Kenya at the close of the Global Peace Convention (GPC) 2010 in Nairobi. During the Convention, then President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Mwai Kibaki charged the audience to “leave something behind”. CCI is one of many outstanding outcomes.

In an interview on the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Global Peace Foundation-Uganda Country Director, Milton Kambula said CCI is critical for the future of Uganda and Africa. According to Mr. Kambula, African youth lack places and role models to develop their character. “African children need to be nurtured, growing in the family and community, growing in school, and now from the school coming back to the community to lead and transform our nations.” Mr. Kambula is confident that CCI in Uganda can fill that need. “We have an opportunity. With the character and creativity initiative in schools, will now raise moral and innovative leaders that will drive the Pan-African agenda.”

When CCI began in Africa, starting with select secondary schools in Nairobi, Kenya, the nation was still recovering from the 2008 post-election violence. At the center of the violence were youth and unemployed young adults. Today, the landscape is different. Schools that were reporting arson incidents are now coveted by parents who line up from around the city to enroll their children. In August 2013, the Kenyan Institute of Research and Analysis issued the results of a three year study of CCI. It reported increased academic performance from students at CCI schools, decreased disciplinary problems, and improved teacher and student satisfaction.

At the heart of CCI is the conviction that educating the brain is not enough to produce future leaders. Dr. Moon has emphasized, “Education should not be just cognitive, it should mold character and cultivate the heart.” CCI is a unique, non-curriculum based initiative that engages multiple education stakeholders, from educators, administrators, students, parents and community members to create whole school culture transformation based on basic universal character qualities.

Below is Mr. Milton Kambula’s interview on the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

For more information visit: LeadIn.org. The original report appears on www.globalpeace.org

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Daniel Juma, Executive Director of GPF-Kenya with youth from Kariobangi shovel garbage out of ditches during the city-wide Clean-up Day.

There’s a new Saturday trend in Nairobi. On June 29^th, the Nairobi City Government announced that ever last Saturday of the month is a city-wide Clean-up Day. Residents are encouraged to clean their neighborhoods together. This is the most recent effort to improve the quality of life in Kenya’s capital city.

GPF reported that on the last Saturday of August, Global Peace Foundation joined youth members in Kariobangi, a lower income district in northern Nairobi for Clean-up Day. Daniel Juma, executive director of GPF-Kenya said the project goes much deeper than cleaning; it’s about “the dignity of the African people.”  Clean-up day is telling evidence of Africa’s move towards community driven change. Native leaders are starting to drive progress.

In 2010, Dr. Moon visited Kenya for the Global Peace Convention. He observed:

“Many in the developed world are trying to make their mark on this continent, either through economic incentives, humanitarian aid, or even historic and cultural precedents harkening back to the age of colonialism. These forces have definitely shaped the current state of affairs on this continent but have no bearing on what could happen in the future.

2010 should signal a new decade of African leadership from local communities to the national halls of government to the four key regional corners of Africa where a new breed of leaders, motivated by a common vision rooted in universal principles and values rise to shape the future of this continent and, possibly, the world. “

GPF-Kenya has spearheaded efforts to raise and engage moral and innovative African leaders through projects such as the Character and Creativity Initiative, Leap Hubs and the All Lights Villages development project.

More significant than the scale or number of projects, however, is the transformation of native leader as they work to make their nation, their continent a model for the world.

Former Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations Dr. Josephine Ojiambo puts this into perspective with her statement at the recent International Young Leaders Assembly at the United Nations.

“Whatever you do, small, large, medium, do it to the best of your ability. Leadership isn’t about being on the highest mountain, or having the loudest voice, it’s about doing that particular thing that you have skills for so well that everybody stops to look.”

Clean-up Day is rallying small acts of service in Nairobi. The results may exceed cleaner neighborhoods and a higher quality of life. Placing the responsibility of national and continental development may be the beginning of a new generation of local African leaders.

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President Yoo holds up a solar powered LED lamp that lights up a local primary school in Kairobangi.

At the start of 2013, Global Peace Foundation expanded the Alllights Village Program to Kenya and Uganda. It is timely as the Kenya government moves forward with the “Kerosene Free Kenya” programme following its commitment at Rio 20+ in 2012.

The All Lights program provides solar powered LED lamps to developing regions in the world to promote health, literacy and ecologically sustainable development.  As GPF-Korea President Kyung Eui Yoo pointed out at the Kenya launch, the project is aiming for long term development and ultimately world peace.

President Yoo told the Chosun Daily,

The Alllights Village Project does not seek to merely provide lanterns to those in need. This project seeks to help local leaders change the mindset of the residents and help them overcome poverty. We are working together to develop economic independence and community driven development to secure the happiness of all the residents. It is like the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) of Korea in the 1970s. In the future, it will expand into a Saenara Undong (New World Movement) that will secure peace that transcends race, religion, and nation.

The program began in Kaiobangi and Kibera and now has expanded to Mutate in the Rift Valley.

Recently The People interviewed the African project coordinator Juyong Kim on the benefits and aims of the All Lights Project in Kenya.

Read the story below.

Lighting up Lives with Solar Lanterns

By Samuria Puleiy
People Daily

Juyong Kim, the project coordinator for three countries representing the Global Peace Foundation. (Credits: The People)

Solar energy is slowly gaining acceptance in Kenya as a renewable source of power. Statistics indicate that 68 percent of the Kenyans depend on firewood and kerosene while a paltry two percent use solar technology despite of the numerous merits it offers. Despite this, 75 percent of Kenyans, especially in rural areas rely on kerosene lanterns for their lighting despite the documented evidence of the health risks those who use these expose themselves to.

To promote the use of solar energy in Kenya, a group of Koreans through a global foundation has come up with a project dubbed ‘All lights programme’ that lights up the lives of children and communities living in the poorest of conditions in Nairobi and parts of Rift Valley. “Light cannot only be used for the purpose of sight, it can also promote peace, cohesion and unity among communities,” says one Juyong Kim, the project coordinator for three countries representing the Global Peace Foundation (GPF).

The foundation started its work in Kenya three years ago. Targeting a specific group of victims widely affected by the Post Election Violence witnessed in Kenya in the 2007/08 period, GPF initiated the programme that saw students, families and communities receive solar powered lanterns that apart from providing light played an important role in bringing communities together.

“We started the project late in 2010 after realising that children were not able to effectively go about their education due to the harsh conditions they lived in. We needed to do something for humanity as these were potential lives going to waste,” says Kim. The South Korean foundation brought in the solar lanterns to Kenya with three main agendas – reducing illiteracy levels, minimizing or completely eradicating health related issues and protecting the environment.

“Most poor families use wick lanterns due to economic constraints, oblivious to the health hazards they are exposing themselves to. But they have no other option. That’s why we saw the need to come in,” explains Kim. They started their work in Kariobangi and Kibera and expanded to Mutate area in Molo Region of El-Burgon in Rift Valley.

The programme has already benefited 150 families. “Children from these families need not to worry about catching up with their studies even in the evening. Their parents can also operate their businesses even as night falls and this is good for the economy,” reckons Kim. The solar powered lanterns are state of the art devices manufactured in South Korea.

They require to be charged for a maximum of five hours with the energy capable of serving its user for a maximum of eight hours into the night. The Alllights programme is fully funded by the people South Korea and one lantern costs about going for about Sh2,610 ($30).

However, the foundation has an agreement with the manufacturers who sell the lanterns to them at a more subsidised rate. With the pilot project having being launched in Kenya in 2011, GPF seeks to run a five year programme where they intend to bring in the solar powered lanterns to the country with plans already under way to install solar powered street lights in poorly lit areas in the country.

Posted by: The People: Development Agenda August 7, 2013

Daniel Juma, Executive Director of GPF-Kenya also recently was interview on KNTV on All Lights Village.

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1st Visionaries meeting in June, 2013 at KCA University.

Global Peace Foundation announced the latest project of it’s Character and Creativity Initiative (CCI), a program called Leap Hubs, “Entrepreneurship & Leadership Incubators in Schools”.

Leap Hubs is a mentoring program build upon the core belief that “high school and university students are capable of learning successful leadership and entrepreneurship skills at a young age for economic independence, self-reliance and social impact for themselves and the larger community.”

The program provides “Hubs” where supportive and positive role models encourage innovative. The involvement of universities, businesses and community organizations open resources and avenues for entrepreneurial advancement.

It is supported through a partnership between GPF Kenya, Africa Nazarene University and CCI schools such as Moi Forces Academy, Buru-Buru Girls’ Secondary School and Alliance High School.

Leap Hubs, features students like 17 year old Brian Kirotich and 18 year old Martin Siele of Alliance High School in Kiambu County, Kenya. The two students invested their own time and capital to create a learning module called eMasomo. Their hope is that is can be used as a learning aid, particularly with students who are struggling with their academics.  And Stephen Njoroga, who has been dubbed, “Mattai’s successor.” Stephen and his We Care Club has planted over 10,000 trees to better the environment.

The CCI program is operating in Kenya, Uganda, and Paraguay with tangible results. Not only has it boosted academic moral,  it has been effectively transforming the school culture, as examples like the 1% club that encourages students of Moi Forces Academy to donate 1% of their time, money and talent to their school and community. It is a cooperative efforts between teachers, students, administrators, parents and the community to cultivate essential values for success in life.

Executive Director, LeadIn; VP, Global Peace Foundation, Tony Devine, likes to point out, “A person’s character quotient plus creativity quotient exceeds their intelligent quotient.” CCI is ensuring that the next generation of business, academic, political and media leaders are equipped with all three competencies.

The original article appears on www.globalpeace.org

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Global Peace Foundation reported the success of the Character and Creativity Initiative in Nairobi Secondary Schools.

Dr. Manu Chandaria (center) with some of the school’s best-performing students.

In recognition of the successful implementation of GPF’s Character and Creativity Initiative at Maina Wanjigi Secondary School in Nairobi, the school welcomed GPF senior advisor and Kenyan corporate leader Dr. Manu Chandaria as the chief guest at a ceremony on June 26, 2013.

Addressing students, teachers, administrators, and dignitaries at the ceremony, Dr. Chandaria praised the Character Competency Initiative, which emphasizes qualities such as respect, personal integrity, and determination as part of the curricula, and said that plans are underway to engage the Ministry of Education to expand the initiative from 40 secondary schools to 400 secondary schools nationwide.

 “Without knowledge and character, we will not have bright future as a nation,” Dr. Chandaria told the assembled guests. He had previously opened the event by formally inaugurating the school’s new administration block, which was built through the support of a Constituency Development Fund.

Other invited dignitaries included Hon. Yusuf Hassan, a Member of Parliament representing Kamukunji, and Hon. Maina Wanjigi, a former Member of Parliament and patron and namesake of the school.

Hon. Wanjigi brought students and parents to attention when pointing out, “Luck is the extension of ability,” and “ability is the first child of discipline and determination.” He commended the good work that school is undertaking in guiding the students. And he thanked parents for entrusting their children to the school.

Hon. Hassan urged students to resist the appeal of drugs and criminal activity. He advised parents to be vigilant in monitoring their children and also pledged additional support in modernizing the school’s infrastructure.

Hon. Yusuf Hassan, a Member of Parliament, encouraged parents to stay involved with their children.

The school was established in 1989 as a mixed day school to address the urgent needs of the surrounding community through basic education and literacy classes, and special programs to combat crime and drug abuse. In a testimony to the school’s impact since the school’s founding, a majority of graduates have continued their education at local and international universities.

 This article originally appears on www.globalpeace.org.

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This year, on June 1, Madaraka Day, Kenya celebrates fifty years since it established internal self-rule.

Jomo Kenyatta is considered to be one of the “founding fathers” of Kenya.

An editorial in The Standard Digital News reflected that as Kenya looks back on 50 years of successes and mistakes and moves towards the next 20 years, it is a time for “everyday heroism among citizens”.

Although visionaries have been crucial, it is really the people’s commitment and efforts to a common dream and purpose that has and will propel Kenya forward.

In 1963, Jomo Kenyatta, father of newly elected President Uhuru Kenyatta, urged unity and vision to the Kenyan people. “I ask for the cooperation of every man and woman in this land to help build the new nation. In the past we have known racial hatred in this land. Let there be forgiveness.”

Fifty years later, his son, Uhuru Kenyatta, shared the same dream with his fellow Kenyans. “I dream of a Kenya where we will not only be proud of our diverse heritage and cultures, but also where we will united around our common aspirations as Kenyan.” He continued, “Kenya is not a collection of 42 tribes who have to live together. Kenya is one nation, assembled by divine providence and held together for the last 50 years by our common bond and belief in a brighter future for us and our children.”

The dream of “we the people of Kenya,” is enshrined in their Kenyan constitution. The “aspiration of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy and social justice, and the rule of law” is rooted on the acknowledgement of the “Almighty God” and pride of its diversity.

In his speech, President Kenyatta made commitments to national unity, investments in green energy, moral and effective governance, an industrial revolution to propel Kenya to Vision 2030, a foreign policy, maternal health and the education and well-being of the youth.

At a recent 2 day capacity building workshop, GPYC leaders led a challenge hike through the Ngog Hills.

But, as the editorial in The Standard concludes, it is really the people who will determine Kenya’s future.  “Encouraging and rewarding this kind of attitude to nation building will create a new breed of heroes that could transform the country radically.”

GPYC-Kenya has recently launched U-Gen, an initiative to raise the next generation of leaders who can lead Kenya and Africa towards sustainable peace and development. These young leaders are being trained in the principles and values that under gird moral and innovative leadership to be and raise the next generation of heroes that will transform Kenya, Africa and the world.

The original articles appear on www.globalpeace.org/blog

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Regional chairman of GPF-Africa, and CEO of Comcraft Group, Dr. Manu Chandaria reflects on the Kenyan presidential elections.

On Saturday, March 9^th, five days after the last poll was closed and the final ballots hand counted due to a glitch in the automated system, the winner of the Kenyan presidential election was announced. The election is not without some minor breakout of violence, but response systems kept it minimal. And, although the winner’s prominent contender contests the outcome, he will go through the courts to resolve the matter. Both sides urged for a peaceful resolution. Thus, Kenyans have delivered, as promised, a peaceful election.

The impact of this victory resounds beyond Kenya. Messages have streamed in from all over the world, congratulating Kenyans for their peaceful election, including countries like Denmark who had direct investments in the Kenyan election process. The Standard reported Executive Secretary, Ambassador Mahboub Maalim of the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (Igad), an organization that includes Kenya and seven of its neighbors, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, praising Kenya for setting the precedent for itself and Africa, “the “high turnout and exemplary discipline on the 4^th of March polling day demonstrating to the region and the whole world their democratic maturity.”

Ambassador Maalim also gave special credit to government and non-governmental organizations, including the Global Peace Foundation. Prior to the elections Global Peace Foundation was a key player in organizing the National Youth Summit, that trained youth how to be “peace ambassadors” during the elections. It also pumped up Vote4Peace  and Vote4Kenya, a SMS campaign that engaged many prominent artists and radio DJs to push out the message of a peaceful election.  In addition, the Global Peace Foundation has been in the Rift Valley, the epicenter of the 2007 post-election violence, implementing various development and peace education projects.

Chairman of GPF-Africa Dr. Manu Chandaria observed that peace is becoming a core value in Kenya. He also was quoted saying, “All the political difference can be resolved I poverty is tackled among ordinary citizens and that can only be done by creating jobs.”

Future business prospects may be bright after this demonstration of Kenyan’s ability to uphold peace and stability. Kenya has shown that is has a dream that transcends tribal differences, and looks to a brighter future for itself, Africa and the world.

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