I’ll freely admit that I’m highly sceptical of programmes that target the ‘boy child’ or young men in a world that is still structurally stacked against women. That scepticism comes from a deep frustration: the sense that the rage we see so often is rooted in fear. Fear that women’s equality somehow threatens men’s current position of superiority. Fear that equality means loss.
So when I was
introduced to Eric Mungai of Yazua Afrika, I held that scepticism close, but I
also challenged myself to listen with an open mind. I’m glad I did.
Eric painted a
compelling picture of the world he hopes to help build.
Born to a
teenage mother, Eric was raised by his maternal grandfather. Teen pregnancy was
difficult for his mother--she experienced post-natal depression, and was later
diagnosed with bipolar disorder alongside other mental health challenges. His
grandfather became the steady anchor Eric needed, providing love, care, and
mentorship.
Without
necessarily naming it as such, his grandfather took a coaching and mentorship
approach. From an early age, he encouraged Eric to volunteer his time. One of
the places Eric volunteered was a rehabilitation centre for street-involved
boys. As he returned regularly, Eric began to notice something uncomfortable:
while he came from the same environment and the same poverty as many of the
boys there, his path was already diverging. He was doing well in school. He had
support.
Digging deeper,
he realised the difference was intentionality.
That
realisation stayed with him. As Eric moved through college and into work, he
continued to volunteer and remain curious about the lived experiences of these
boys. At the centre, he noticed a troubling pattern. While school fees were
being paid, many boys weren’t staying. The intervention wasn’t responding to
their individual needs.
Eric came to
understand that raising boys requires more than provision — it requires stories
that speak to their hearts and imaginations.
What began as a
weekend engagement slowly grew into a community. Eric developed a curriculum
shaped by listening, observation, and lived experience.
“I wanted to
give them something I had — something that gave me an edge.”
Much of that
edge, he reflects, came from watching his grandfather evolve. While his
grandfather had been angry, distant, and almost dictatorial with his own
children, he was different with Eric. The shift came after his business failed,
giving him the space to sit with himself.
“Men don’t know
who they are until their world crumbles around them.”
With Eric, his
grandfather was present. He listened. He encouraged expression. He had Eric
read aloud to him — a practice Eric credits with significantly improving his
academic performance.
These early
experiences now inform Yazua Afrika’s programmes for boys and young men aged
nine to twenty-one. Rather than teaching masculinity through rigid roles, Yazua
reframes it through values and virtues.
“A lot of work
with boys is still deeply patriarchal. Masculinity needs to move from roles to
values. Discipline, determination, excellence — these are qualities that make
you a good human being, and therefore a good man. The idea that manhood is
about power over others isn’t just outdated; it’s dangerous.”
Yazua Afrika
partners with high schools that need additional support in mentoring boys. They
train mentors — including school alumni and professionals from corporate
organisations — using their curriculum. They also license this curriculum to
other organisations, such as rehabilitation centres for street-involved boys
and groups working with boys from lower-income communities.
Their approach
is intentionally experiential. Boys are immersed in their communities and
encouraged to see themselves as contributors rather than recipients. For boys
aged twelve to seventeen, this includes identifying a problem in their school
or community and developing a solution. Often, they focus on issues such as
waste management or climate change. Yazua Afrika then supports them by
connecting the boys to relevant organisations — for example, the Africa
Leadership Academy — which provide curriculum support, materials, and training.
The boys don’t
just ideate. They act. They volunteer. They participate.
I was keen to
hear stories of boys and men who had gone through Yazua Afrika’s programmes,
and Eric shared several.
One is Peter
Ndirangu, now working at L’Oréal and a strong supporter of Yazua Afrika. He is
passionate about ethical sourcing, consistently asking what it would mean for a
global company to prioritise clean products and moral supply chains — and how
those decisions affect communities.
Another alumnus
is a county assembly member actively pushing for progressive civic
conversations. Another, also named Peter, runs a startup that encourages people
to invest in and support coffee farmers.
Eric also
shared reflections from participants who spoke about how the guidance and
mentorship from him and the wider team helped them grow in confidence,
discipline, and self-understanding.
As Yazua Afrika
continues to grow, Eric is becoming increasingly intentional about partnerships
and scale. The organisation is also preparing to open an office in
Johannesburg.
I began this
conversation sceptical. I left it persuaded of something important: working
with boys does not have to come at the expense of women. When done
thoughtfully, it is one of the ways we build safer, more equitable societies —
for everyone.
Keen to learn more? Reach out to Yazua Afrika at eric@yazuaafrika.com or visit https://yazuaafrika.com/
