Impact

Transformational Stories

Emmanuel’s Journey of Change

Emmanuel, a 14-year-old in Class 7, was once the “troublemaker” of his school. At home, he argued with his parents and often refused to help. At school, his teachers constantly complained about his disruptive behavior. His mother, who ran a small shop, could not trust him even to watch over it—he would steal money and be influenced by bad company.

Everything changed in March 2020, when Emmanuel attended his first Tawi session. Drawn to the games, songs, and discussions, he began to reflect on his choices. Within weeks, teachers noticed he was arriving to school early. Within months, he was entrusted with locking and unlocking classrooms daily. At home, he stopped stealing and began helping with chores.

A year later, Emmanuel stood before his school as a transformed young leader. Once shunned by classmates, he was elected President of the Student Government Council. Emmanuel now says: “The discussions in Tawi opened my eyes. They made me realize who I want to be—and who I don’t want to be.”

Vincent Becomes a Community Leader

Vincent, 13, had a reputation that followed him everywhere—unruly, disobedient, and impossible to manage. Schools expelled him repeatedly, unable to cope with his behavior. But when he joined Emmaus Blessed School in 2018, his life took a different turn.

He attended his first Tawi session just weeks after admission. To his teachers’ surprise, Vincent quickly absorbed the lessons of teamwork, responsibility, and service. Within two months, he was chosen to attend the National Training Camp in Nairobi. Afterward, he began conducting Tawi sessions in his school, showing leadership and initiative.

When schools closed in June 2020, Vincent went to live with his grandmother in a rural village. There, within days, he gathered neighborhood children and started Tawi sessions. Curious elders followed the children one day and were astonished to see Vincent leading games, drills, songs, and discussions. Asked why he was doing it, Vincent answered confidently: “We are members of Arise & Awake Kenya. We run Tawi to build good character.”

That moment gave birth to the first community-based Tawi. Today, Vincent is a national instructor, training youth across Kenya to carry forward the mission.

Aisha’s Bright Idea

At Love School in Kitengela, 10-year-old Aisha discovered the power of initiative during a Tawi session. Her teacher had explained the meaning of the song “Jukumu Letu”—our responsibility—and challenged the students to think about what they could do for their school. The next day, Aisha, then a Grade 4 student, approached her teacher with an idea: “Mwalimu, we don’t have storybooks in our school. Can we sell lollipops?”

Encouraged to develop the idea further, Aisha spoke with her friends and soon returned with a plan. She explained that a packet of lollipops cost 250 shillings but could be sold for 500 shillings. She had convinced six of her classmates to join her, with each one pledging to contribute 30 shillings. Impressed by her clarity and initiative, the teacher added the remaining 40 shillings to complete the purchase of the first packet.

Within three weeks, Aisha and her friends had successfully sold three packets of lollipops. With the profits, they purchased storybooks for their school, turning a simple idea into a tangible act of change. What began as one child’s response to a song became a project of teamwork, creativity, and leadership. Aisha proved that even the youngest students can rise to challenges, and with courage and resourcefulness, they can become problem-solvers and leaders in their communities.

Students of St. William’s Transform Their School

At St. William’s Learning Center, students faced a demoralizing challenge. Their school had been relocated due to railway expansion, leaving the new compound bare and uninviting. The walls were unpainted, and funds were scarce.

During a Tawi session, students discussed their environment and came up with a bold solution: raise the money themselves. With parents, teachers, and students working together, they collected more than KES 46,000. The school was repainted, classrooms brightened, and pride restored.

The transformation was more than cosmetic. The students carried themselves with renewed confidence. The project became a living example of the Tawi spirit: “Not me, but us.”

These are not isolated examples—they are glimpses of what happens when citizens, even at a young age, discover their potential. Emmanuel, Vincent, Aisha, and the students of St. William’s represent thousands of Kenyans who are awakening to a new way of life: selfless service, community ownership, and leadership rooted in values.