Nairobi, Kenya — February 16, 2026 — Global Peace Foundation Kenya hosted a strategic youth leadership engagement bringing together Presidential Fellows under the President’s Fellowship and Chandaria Legacy Awards Program, where David Caprara, International Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at the Global Peace Foundation, challenged young leaders to connect their work in Kenya to the global Global Peace Leadership Corps.
The dialogue, led alongside Africa Regional Representative and Executive Director Daniel Juma, brought together Presidential Fellows Mercy Okemo, Maxwel Okochi, Flominah Mucheke, and Jung Min to explore how Kenya’s youth leadership and environmental initiatives can contribute to and benefit from a growing global movement of young peacebuilders.
Connecting Kenya’s Young Leaders to a Global Movement
In his remarks, David Caprara urged the fellows to actively plug into the Global Peace Leadership Corps, describing it as a platform that connects youth across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to advance peacebuilding, environmental stewardship, and values-based leadership.
“The leadership you are demonstrating here in Kenya is part of something much bigger,” Caprara said. “By joining the Global Peace Leadership Corps, you are not only transforming your communities—you are contributing to a continental and global movement of young leaders building peace through service, character, and environmental action.”
The Global Peace Leadership Corps is an international youth leadership network that equips young leaders with training, mentorship, and opportunities for service. Through the Corps, youth participate in cross-border exchanges, leadership development programs, and collaborative environmental initiatives such as tree growing, ecosystem restoration, and community development.
The Corps empowers youth to serve as ambassadors of peace and sustainability while fostering global collaboration and shared learning across cultures and nations.
Advancing Kenya’s Leadership and Africa’s Future
During the engagement, Presidential Fellows and Global Peace Foundation leadership explored practical pathways for integrating Kenyan fellows into the Corps, including participation in global leadership exchanges, environmental peacebuilding initiatives, and international youth convenings.
The fellows expressed strong interest in contributing to the Corps by scaling Kenya’s Million Tree Growing Campaign, sharing best practices with other countries, and strengthening youth-led environmental action across Africa.
Caprara emphasized that Kenya is uniquely positioned to lead the continent in youth-driven environmental peacebuilding.
“Kenya is pioneering a model where youth are not only planting trees but building peace, restoring ecosystems, and strengthening national unity,” he said. “The Global Peace Leadership Corps provides a platform to amplify Kenya’s leadership and share its success with the world.”
Strengthening a Legacy of Youth Leadership
The engagement also highlighted the critical role of the Presidential Fellowship and Chandaria Legacy Awards Program in preparing young leaders to address global challenges through service and innovation.
Through its partnership with renowned philanthropist Manu Chandaria and the Chandaria Foundation, Global Peace Foundation Kenya continues to invest in youth leadership as a cornerstone of sustainable development and peacebuilding.
By connecting Kenyan Presidential Fellows to the Global Peace Leadership Corps, the Foundation is strengthening a global network of young changemakers committed to building peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable societies.
As Kenya advances its national environmental and development goals, its young leaders are now positioned not only to transform their communities—but to help shape the future of Africa and the world.
