6 African Youth Who Made a Difference for Their Communities

Children in Africa are driving change and transforming communities—even entire countries. Among them are sports icons, innovators, activists, professionals, language translators, etc. These young people inspire many more to follow in their footsteps.

They have proved that challenges—like illiteracy, poverty, diseases, lack of jobs, and lack of social amenities—can be overcome, and negative perceptions can be changed.
In the presentation, “The Danger of a Single Story,” We are encouraged to tell more African stories.¹ So here is a handful of transformative stories about exceptional youngsters throughout Africa:

1. Sadio the football sensation
2. John provides electricity for his village
3. Ayeshaitu’s determination to get an education
4. Maya, a skilled Mandarin translator
5. Noah becomes a CEO at 14
6. Tanya fought off the handicap of disease

Sadio the football sensation²

Photo by Papa birame Faye on Pexels

From humble beginnings in Bambali, a remote Senegalese village, Sadio Mane’s passion for football blossomed.

He grew up in a poor community. But, despite limited resources, the sport became his lifeline. He joined local clubs and started his journey toward professional football.

At 15, wearing tattered boots and makeshift shorts, his raw talent shone through during a pivotal trial in Dakar, Senegal’s Capital.

His impressive performance marked the first step on an extraordinary journey from West African obscurity to footballing stardom.

His entry into the world stage

Leaving Senegal’s shores, Sadio arrived in England, his English limited but his talent boundless.

The teenage sensation stormed Liverpool’s left flank, dazzling spectators with lightning speed and pinpoint accuracy. Week after week, he netted spectacular goals, leaving sports reporters puzzled.

Who was this very young African prodigy? His origins mysterious, his impact undeniable, Sadio became the talk of football circles overnight.

An impressive career

Liverpool FC, a global football powerhouse, found their ace in Sadio.

His talent propelled the club to new heights, securing prestigious awards and trophies.

Internationally, Sadio became Senegal’s most important player, earning recognition as the team’s finest.

His impact for club and country extends beyond club borders, influencing both English and African football. He has been voted African Player of the Year and has been on the Ballon Dor nominee list (the most prestigious global award in football).

Sadio’s remarkable journey cements his status among the sport’s elite, leaving an indelible mark on football history.

The results of his achievements

From humble beginnings to football stardom, Sadio’s journey inspires us to look beyond what might hold us back.

And then to give back after we are given a chance to grow.

His on-field prowess translated into wealth, which he now invests in Senegal’s future.

Sadio did not forget his roots. And to help others overcome the limitations of their circumstances, he has built schools to help educate children in his local village, and hospitals to help stem the negative impacts of disease. All these projects have been funded by his success.³

Young footballers, witnessing his impact, dream of following his path—both on the pitch and in philanthropy.

And Sadio is not the only youngster to impact his community. A Kenyan became a hero who provided electricity for his village without a formal university education.

John provides electricity for his village⁴

Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Pexels

In Kenya’s Central Highlands, a curious boy named John tinkered with wires.

Despite growing up poor, his fascination with electricity burned bright.

When attending primary school, he had significant trouble reading and writing⁵. Yet John’s true potential lay hidden, waiting to spark a transformative journey from village life to technological prowess, and soon he would become the electrical engineer of his village.

How it all began

Dismissed as a “loser” by teachers because of his poor grades, John decided not to join college after high school. Instead, he wanted to realize his dreams of electricity production. Many of the kids in his village struggled to study because of a lack of lighting in their homes.

Only a few saw his gift. He sold livestock, bought tools, and promised his neighbors he would provide them with electricity—which was very expensive to install in Kenya at the time.

None of his neighbors expected much of him. Some even called him crazy, saying he needed to see a psychiatrist! Such a project had never been done before in the area.

Others still believed he needed at least a University education to achieve his dreams. Yet His passion drove him to defy expectations.

John’s unconventional path challenged those who dismissed him as he pursued innovation over traditional education.

John transformed into a skilled engineer

Determination fueled John’s dream of powering his village.

Without major formal training, armed only with high school physics qualification, he tackled the challenge head-on. He sold rabbits to generate the money he needed to buy the necessary tools and parts.

The result? A homemade electricity plant in rural Kenya.

Now, residents enjoy his supply, bolstering Kenya’s energy industry. As a result, many economic activities have benefited. Many students can study in the evenings and entertainment establishments have also risen in the village.

John’s innovation shines, illuminating homes and inspiring others.

His innovation spreads to other countries

John’s hydropower project lights 2000 homes, a testament to his diligence.

Neighbors that once doubted him now enjoy the fruits of his determination.

With electricity, his village now has improved healthcare, education, and economic production. This achievement is contributing to the African sustainable development goals set by his government to spur economic growth in rural Africa.

Other Kenyan communities adopted his innovations first, due to his cheaper method of production. Then, rural projects in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda followed suit.

John’s heroism proves one person can spark change. And you have the same potential to transform lives.

Coming up is the story of a young lady in Ghana, who created opportunities to fund her schooling.

Ayeshaitu’s determination to get an education

Photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash

Ayeshaitu became an orphan at six years old. Her mother died when she was five and her father passed away the following year.

She and her older siblings were put under the care of a guardian who looked after some orphans.

However, her guardian was unemployed and struggled to make ends meet.

At this time, aged 16, due to the constraints of poverty, Ayeshaitu’s future did not look bright. She would probably be married off young, or hawk goods every day and still struggle to break even.

She vowed to break the cycle and forge a different path.

Driven by determination to overcome the challenges of her impoverished upbringing, she took charge of her education.

She faced challenges

Denied senior high school due to financial constraints, Ayeshaitu refused to let her education end.

Though she failed her entrance exam three years prior, due to a lack of preparation and money, her determination only grew stronger.

While her sisters gave up and got married, she resolved to improve her life through learning.

The opportunities for school fees she created

World Vision’s Cocoa Life program supported a women’s savings group in Ayeshaitu’s community. In such a group she could put in her savings and get a grant that was enough to pay her school fees.

Seizing this opportunity to fund her education, she joined despite age restrictions.

Her determination earned her an exception to the 18-and-over rule.

Ayeshaitu channeled her earnings from part-time hawking work into savings, securing her school fees, school essentials, and future.

The achievement of an education

Ayeshaitu, now back in school and self-sufficient, looks forward to joining the military academy.

She did well in her final exams and was admitted to the Academy. She hopes to work in the military upon completion of her training.

She also hopes to raise some money so she can start a small business for her siblings.

She is keen to develop a local skill set of weaving and plans to learn how to make “African bags.”⁶ Her eyes gleam with determination as she speaks.⁷ “I want to inspire girls from small towns facing similar challenges. … With dedication, anyone can reach great heights.”

Next, orphaned at a tender age, Maya conquered the challenges of learning a foreign language and forged a successful career as a translator.

Maya, a skilled Mandarin translator

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Maya⁸, a UN translator in Nairobi, Kenya, met up for an interview to tell her story. Her greeting was in Mandarin Chinese, “NI HAO MA”, meaning “Hello.”

She immediately came across as a language expert. Mandarin is precisely difficult to learn, since it is written in different characters from most Latin-based languages.

Though working in East Africa, Maya’s roots trace back to Lusaka, Zambia, in Southern Africa. She grew up in the suburbs of the city.

Early in her life, an opportunity took her from Africa to Asia, enriching her role in global communication.

The challenges of losing her parents when young

Maya came from a privileged middle-income background, unlike many children in Zambia. But her life took a tragic turn when she lost her parents in a terrible accident at the age of five.

This event changed her life completely. Unfortunately, some relatives who were meant to care for her took advantage of the situation and misused her parents’ savings.

As a result, Maya found herself without the support she needed to thrive.

To make matters much worse, at a young age, she was molested by a close relative, which led her to make the brave decision to leave and seek haven at an orphanage.

Maya overcame challenges to achieve a career

At one time, Maya felt like her life was filled with darkness. It was hard for her to see a reason to keep going.

However, meeting other girls who had faced similar challenges inspired her to stay positive and hopeful.

She found strength in her faith in God, giving her life to Jesus and regularly attending church at the orphanage chapel.

When it was time for university, Maya was fortunate to receive a Chinese government scholarship to study in China. These scholarships are given to gifted students in specific areas of study. Maya was gifted in languages.

Maya has always done well in school and has impressed everyone with her achievements. She graduated with the highest honors in Linguistics and continued to earn her Master’s in International Development Studies.

After graduation, she moved to Nairobi and was thrilled to start her job as a translator.

Maya inspires others as a professional linguist

Learning Mandarin Chinese to become a translator is quite a challenge, but it’s also a rewarding journey!

Maya sees herself as a tool for good, helping others with the blessings she has received.

She enjoys traveling to various African countries and uses her free time to inspire others as a motivational speaker.

Through social media, she connects with and uplifts those who are less fortunate by sharing her story and helping connect others to sources of funding and scholarships.

Next, from Uganda comes the story of a young boy who got his company off the ground when he was still a teenager.

Noah becomes a CEO at 14

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

During his childhood, Noah Walakira⁹ spent most of his holidays at his grandmother’s house.

But it wasn’t only about listening to folktales and getting treats from his grandmother. He had been visiting there during school vacations even before he was a teenager.

Every day he watched his grandmother knitting beautiful sweaters for him and other family members.

To his grandmother, who was his teacher, it was a simple hobby that he was learning. But he saw things differently. Through those years, he was mastering a skill—one that would pay off big time.

A hobby turns into a career

When Noah Walakira was only 14 years old, he decided to turn the knitting skills he had learned from his grandmother into something profitable.

Through knitting jerseys for schools in Kampala, he founded the community-based organization, Namirembe Sweater Makers. He was assisted by loans from commercial banks that support small businesses in Uganda.

A successful entrepreneur

The company currently manufactures uniforms for over 45 schools, as well as other institutions such as security companies and petrol stations in Uganda.

Furthermore, it serves clients in countries such as Rwanda, South Sudan, and Tanzania.

In addition to employing up to 20 locals, Noah’s company produces about 500 sweaters each month, each costing around USD 7.00.

Through the business’ earnings, Noah, along with some of his siblings and some of the other young employees, have been able to pay for their education.

Now let’s learn about how Tanya’s remarkable journey transformed her from a sickly child into a celebrated sports icon.

When life knocked Tanya down, she didn’t stay down

Tanya Muzinda was an 11-year-old motocross prodigy who became the face of a children’s hospital in Zimbabwe. Here’s how her determination and perseverance brought her to where she is today, inspiring other children with her story.¹⁰

Conditioned to live in seclusion by illness

Nine months after Tanya was born, her immune system weakened. She was immunodeficient, meaning her body could not fight disease naturally, and she had to live away from the city for four years to be able to grow healthier.

She couldn’t play with other kids for fear of getting sick. She wasn’t even supposed to be in public places.

With such a secluded life, it’s understandable that she spent the first several years in a depression. In many African countries, it is common for many children to grow up in despair due to the lack of access to proper medical care and support.

Determined to thrive

Fortunately, Tanya improved with time, treatment, and home-based care and moved back to the city. She could now appear in public despite the risks.

After being secluded for so long, many people stay that way because that is what has become familiar and safe. But Tanya resolved to come out of the shadows to show people you don’t have to spend the rest of your life being scared. You don’t have to let your past define your future. No, she wants to “inspire girls from all over the world.”

Tanya had a strong interest in bike racing. Tanya’s family was invited to Donnybrook Raceway in Harare when she was five years old by a friend of her father’s. She fell in love with bike racing the moment her father allowed her to try it.

She became the first female from Zimbabwe to win a local motocross championship after finishing second in her first tournament. She has since competed all over the world.

Tanya was soon approached by a children’s hospital. They needed a face—a role model who embodied thriving, and someone children could look up to. Tanya’s father saw this as a good chance for her to help others. She would be an inspiration for sick children and show them that even if you’re sick, injured, depressed, or held back in some other way, it doesn’t always have to define the rest of your life. While change and achievement require effort and endurance, it is indeed possible to one day do the fun and meaningful things you really want to do.

In December 2015, Tanya became the poster girl for motocross in Zimbabwe.¹¹ She is now a public figure and a beacon of hope for children in the entire country. She is no longer the child that couldn’t go out and play.

She has even been invited to be involved in promoting the African child in international day celebrations¹², the Day of the African Child.¹³

“Children are the future of this world. As we celebrate together with millions of little boys and girls l want to reach out to our parents, guardians, relatives, and friends that you should not be the reason that children have limitations to their dreams. Let us dream big and help us to explore the world,”¹⁴ she said in her speech.

A life beyond sickness

Today, Tanya inspires young people to let their dreams define them, rather than the circumstances that might be holding them back.

She remains active in public events, like the International Day of the Girl Child,¹⁵ beating expectations.

Tanya was expected to live like an invalid and cower in fear of all the diseases she might contract, never venturing out to achieve anything of significance. But by venturing into a high-energy sport, she took control of her life, refusing to let her past struggles limit her.

Now, many kids with sickness and physical disabilities look up to her.¹⁶ She believes that you shouldn’t spend your life being scared, no matter the circumstances.

Thriving beyond challenges and obstacles

It’s so inspiring to learn about what others have done in the face of significant obstacles and setbacks. These African young people were positive, focused, bright, and innovative. And by deciding to keep moving forward and not give up, they ended up benefiting not only themselves, but the communities they came from.

Many more are helping to shape a fresh narrative about what young people can do when presented with life’s challenges.

Have you ever wondered if you can make a difference where you are? Not with a big issue somewhere far away, but with the simpler, more realistic challenges of your community?

You may be afraid to stand out, to speak, to represent, to carry responsibility, to suggest, or to fail while trying. But like the young people in these stories, you too, can make a difference wherever you are.

1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Danger of a Single Story,” TED Talks, July 2009 [↵]
2. Andrew Christian, “What Sadio Mane’s Exciting Award Says About Talent And Media Efforts Towards African Sports,” WeeTracker, Jan. 17, 2020 [↵]
3. Andrew Christian, “What Sadio Mane’s Exciting Award Says About Talent And Media Efforts Towards African Sports,” WeeTracker, Jan. 17, 2020 [↵]
4. Tuko Kenya, “High school leaver builds own electricity power plant (Amazing Story)” Faces of Kenya Documentary, Feb 14, 2018 [↵]
5. Tuko Kenya, “High school leaver builds own electricity power plant (Amazing Story)” Faces of Kenya Documentary, Feb 14, 2018 [↵]
6. The basket room, 2024, https://www.thebasketroom.com/pages/the-basket-bag [↵]
7. “Ayeshaitu’s story on creating her own opportunities in Ghana,” World Vision, October 18, 2021 [↵]
8. C. Maya, personal communication, August 2, 2024 [↵]
9. What was once a pastime is now a business, The Monitor, March 23, 2015 [↵]
10. Harris, Chris, “An African Girl with the dream of becoming an International Motocross Athlete,” Andscape, 2013. [↵]
11. https://www.tanyamuzinda.com/ [↵]
12. https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/internationdayofthegirlchild [↵]
13. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=512417739240917 [↵]
14. https://www.facebook.com/tanya.muzinda/videos/today-is-a-special-day-as-we-celebrate-the-world-childrens-day-across-the-globec/512417739240917/ [↵]
15. https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/internationdayofthegirlchild [↵]
16. https://andscape.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/static1-squarespace.jpg?resize=864,1536 [↵]