BACKGROUND & HISTORY

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The Murang’a Youth Bunge County Forum (MYBCF) is a rural, community-based organization committed to empowering youth through positive youth development approaches. For over a decade, MYBCF has mobilized young people into youth-owned, youth-led, and youth-managed village-based organizations (youth bunges), building their capacity to amplify their voices and lead transformative change within their communities.

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Since its inception in 2011 and official registration in March 2012, MYBCF has grown into a dynamic youth network, bringing together over 700 youth groups across Murang’a County with a collective membership exceeding 10,500 young people.

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MYBCF is part of the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA), a coalition of 30 similar county-based youth networks formed through the USAID’s "Yes Youth Can!" program in Kenya. These forums were established to empower young people as change agents within their local contexts through grassroots mobilization and leadership development.

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Our Strategic Objectives

Facilitate Structured Youth Organization

Support legally registered youth-led self-help groups and entities ("youth bunges") as inclusive, community-based platforms for civic engagement and grassroots engagement.

 

Build Youth Leadership and Civic Capacity 

Strengthen the leadership, advocacy, and civic participation capacity of youth—particularly young women and marginalized groups—through inclusive governance and participatory processes.

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Enhance the equitable access to economic opportunity for young people and women

Ensure equitable access to livelihoods, skills, and entrepreneurial opportunities within youth groups, using gender mainstreaming and social inclusion frameworks. 

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Advocate for Positive Youth Development (PYD) 

Promote youth-responsive and rights-based development policies in all sectors of Murang’a County. 

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Our Activities

MYBCF has successfully implemented numerous community-based projects that position young people as key drivers of change. By involving youth in the design and implementation of knowledge-driven initiatives, the organization has established specialized project teams that contribute skills, foster innovation, and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

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In addition, MYBCF has previously collaborated with multinational partners such as the Coca-Cola Foundation (20 by 50 initiative), Envirofit, Microsoft Foundation & International Youth Foundation (Build Your Business Digital Course), Swiss Contact, and TechnoServe to support youth- and women-led enterprises. These partnerships have been instrumental in bolstering local businesses through the Murang’a County Bunge Savings and Credit Cooperative.

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Education & Literacy

As implementing partner for USAID and the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) international, the MYBCF implemented the Tusome Early Grade Reading Activity that worked with lower grade learners in more than 30 public primary schools between 2017 and 2023.  To enhance educational access for all learners, MYBCF operates a mobile book bank service for early-grade learners in remote and far-to-reach areas. Youth volunteers, known as reading champions, help deliver books and promote literacy among children in marginalized communities across the county.

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Agriculture & Environmental Conservation

A dedicated team of youth volunteers manage MYBCF’s demonstration orchards, created in collaboration with the Kenya Forest Service under the Green Zones Development Support Program- Phase II, funded by the African Development Bank. The forum also partners with 12 public schools to engage youth in wildlife clubs, promoting environmental conservation and contributing to the protection of the critically endangered Mountain Bongo through the Tulinde Bongo Project.

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Governance & Civic Engagement

MYBCF emphasizes civic education and local governance by training youth on democracy, devolution, public participation, and accountability. The organization took part in launching the Kenya National Youth Inclusion in Governance Status Report in partnership with Siasa Place NGO (September 2020). Additionally, MYBCF contributed to developing the National Communication and Advocacy Strategy (NCAS) for TVET in Kenya, following their involvement in the Skills Show 2019.

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Our Approach

The success of MYBCF’s initiatives lies in its community-led approach, commitment to advocacy, and continuous capacity-building efforts. With representation from every ward in Murang’a County, MYBCF ensures inclusivity and broad-based participation through its county board structure.