Thanks for the Champions App

Thanks for the Champions App

My name is Rael Wankuru; a youth champion from Migori County working with Tunaweza Empowerment Organization.  When we began implementing TUKISONGA brand at Tunaweza Empowerment backed by Girl Effect, I was excited but also nervous. Talking openly with young people about relationships, sexual and reproductive health, mental well-being and ambition is not always easy in our community. These conversations are sensitive, deeply personal and often surrounded by silence. As a Champion, I knew the responsibility was big. What I did not know then was how much the Champions App would walk with me and with the youth aged 18-24 years through this journey.

Every session with adolescent youth started long before we gathered under a tree or in a hall. Using the Champions App, I prepared through the session library, where everything I needed was already thoughtfully organized: session content, learning objectives, themes, goals, and clear agendas. This gave me confidence. I was no longer guessing what to say or how to guide discussions. I felt equipped, grounded and ready to hold space for honest conversations.

Over the ten Tukisonga (Tuki?) sessions, I watched young people slowly open up. At first, many were shy, avoiding eye contact when topics like contraception, relationships or mental health came up. But session by session, something shifted. The stories in Tukisonga the love, heartbreaks, ambition, struggles and resilience felt familiar to them. They saw themselves in the characters. Conversations became real.

Young women began asking questions about family planning without fear or shame. Young men reflected openly on relationships, gender roles and shared responsibility. Discussions on economic ambition sparked hope youth spoke about dreams they had buried under poverty and pressure. For the first time, many felt it was okay to want more for themselves.

The general training section of the app helped me connect each episode to real-life lessons, making it easier for the group to reflect deeply. After every session, I submitted reports directly through the app. This may sound small, but it mattered. Our experiences were captured in real time and synced.

One of the most powerful parts of the Champions App was the services section. When difficult issues surfaced; violence, mental distress, unplanned pregnancies, we did not feel helpless. We had direct access to referral pathways: Childline Kenya, Aunty Jane Hotline, the Gender Desk at Kehancha Police Station, and Kuria West Sub-County Hospital. I personally supported adolescents and youth to seek help, knowing they were not alone and that support was just a call away.

Tukisonga, truly lived up to its name. It reminded us that progress is collective. Healing happens in the community. Growth happens when young people are trusted with information, dignity and choice.

As a Champion, this journey changed me too. I grew in confidence, empathy and leadership. I did not just facilitate sessions i witnessed transformation. Youth who once sat silently now speak with clarity and courage. They are making informed decisions, supporting one another and imagining brighter futures.

For this, I say thank you.
Thank you to the Champions App for making our work easier and stronger.