ourHistory
From a single peer-education program in Kisumu to an ecosystem of impact across Western Kenya and Kakuma — this is how COME INITIATIVE grew.
We didn’t start with a strategic plan or a donor brief. We started with young people in Kisumu who were tired of waiting for someone else to fix things.
The Journey — 2015 to present
- 2015
Founded in Kisumu
COME INITIATIVE was established by a group of young people in Kisumu who believed that lasting community change had to come from within. The first program — a peer-led sexual and reproductive health education initiative — launched in Manyatta ward with 12 peer educators.
First 200 beneficiaries reached
- 2016
VIVA Project formally launched
The VIVA Project was formalised as a structured SRH program with community dialogues, clinical referral linkages, and a peer mentorship model. Partnerships with Amref Health Africa and Kenya Red Cross were established.
4 wards covered in first year
- 2017
Expansion to Kakuma
Responding to a gap in civic education and psychosocial support for youth in Kakuma refugee camp, COME INITIATIVE began designing what would become the SIKIKA program — audio content produced and distributed within the camp.
First refugee camp engagement
- 2018
JIAJIRI Vocational Training Launched
The JIAJIRI livelihoods program opened its first cohort in Kondele, offering ICT, entrepreneurship, and dressmaking tracks to out-of-school youth. The first 42 graduates completed the program with a 68% employment rate within 90 days.
42 graduates in cohort one
- 2019
CESC Interactive Radio Program
The Community Engagement for Social Cohesion program launched weekly interactive radio broadcasts connecting Kisumu youth with county government officials. The first policy brief, co-authored by CESC participants, was submitted to Kisumu County Assembly.
First government policy brief submitted
- 2020
COVID-19 Pivot & Digital Delivery
The pandemic forced a rapid pivot to digital and audio-first delivery. SIKIKA expanded its WhatsApp distribution network to reach all four zones of Kakuma camp. JIAJIRI launched a remote ICT track. COME INITIATIVE served communities through the hardest year.
Zero program shutdowns during COVID
- 2021
Theatre for Development & Governance
Two new programs launched: the Theatre for Development program trained the first cohort of 20 community theatre practitioners in Kisumu, and the Governance & Accountability program deployed the first civic monitors to track public expenditure.
30+ accountability reports in first year
- 2022
USAID Partnership & Scale
A formal partnership with USAID enabled COME INITIATIVE to significantly scale VIVA and JIAJIRI. The 10th JIAJIRI cohort graduated — the largest to date. The organisation crossed 10,000 cumulative beneficiaries for the first time.
10,000 cumulative beneficiaries milestone
- 2023
YALI Leadership Partnership
COME INITIATIVE joined the YALI Regional Leadership Center East Africa network, opening scholarships and leadership development pathways for program alumni. 14 alumni were placed in the YALI cohort.
14 alumni in YALI cohort
- 2024
DW Akademie & Media Literacy
A partnership with DW Akademie brought media literacy and digital journalism training into the SIKIKA program, equipping refugee youth to tell their own stories across digital platforms. CESC broadcast expanded to FM reach across Western Kenya.
50,000+ radio listeners reached
- 2025
Jijue — Mental Health Program
Responding to rising demand identified through VIVA and JIAJIRI community feedback, COME INITIATIVE launched Jijue — a mental health and psychosocial support program for youth. The program integrated with all existing program tracks.
Mental health mainstreamed across all programs
- 2026
Government of Kenya Partnership
A formal MOU with the State Department for Youth Affairs designated COME INITIATIVE as an implementing partner for the Digital Skills Program — a landmark moment representing the organisation's first direct government implementation mandate.
Official government partner
Growth in numbers
- 9+Years active
- 8Programs
- 9.2k+Beneficiaries
- 15+Partners