Impart Change is a local non-profit organization registered with the Office of the Sub County Social Development Officer Under the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services Kenya. We are located in Westlands Constituency Nairobi. Our work focuses on addressing four dimensions of conflict; personal, structural, cultural and communal conflict, where we empower children between 10 - 17 years of age and youth between 18 - 35 years of age with skills, knowledge and information on peace-building and conflict management. Our goal is to provide them with skills to enable them interrupt violence in their lives and serve as agents of sustainable peace and development in their communities.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Vyonne Bellys Akoth is a peace and security specialist by profession. Her inspiration to launch Impart Change, was inspired by the need to empower children and youth with peacebuilding, conflict management and violence prevention skills, knowledge, and information, placing them at the heart of sustainable peacebuilding interventions. As a researcher, she has contributed to various researches on youth, peace, security, digital and human rights with organizations such a Peace Direct, the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) and the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP) - The Geneva Institute. Vyonne’s passion for championing sustainable peace and security has led her to be an official youth delegate representing Kenya and Africa in numerous regional and global conferences organized by organizations such as the US Institute of Peace (USIP) and the United Nations. She has been selected a key speaker and panelist in global events such as the 1st Global Forum on Youth Policies, the 2nd World Human Rights Forum, the 2015 United Nations ECOSOC Youth Forum and the 2017 US – Africa Partnerships Symposium. Vyonne enjoys various prestigious fellowship awards under her belt. They include a Generation Change Fellow with USIP, a Community Solutions Fellow with International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), a Sakharov Fellow with the European Parliament and an Emerging Leader with the Obama Foundation Africa Program. Vyonne has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from St Paul’s University in Kenya. She is an avid campaigner of a violence free society and would like to see more children and youth, with special focus on girls and young women, play an active role in sustainable peace, development and security interventions.