Executive Director Willice Onyango has over ten years of experience designing and leading innovative African cross-sectoral development programs that feature youth-led research, learning, and adaptation. Willice has led diverse global teams of up to 53 staff and portfolios totalling over $20 million. Led The Youth Cafe to be an award-winning youth organization symbolizing youth empowerment in Africa and beyond. A visionary leader passionate about social justice, Willice has dedicated his career to creating opportunities for young people to fulfill their potential.

With a Master's degree in Innovations and Entrepreneurship Management from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor's degree in International Diplomacy, Civic Leadership Institute from Kansas State University as part of the prestigious President Barack Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Willice has a strong academic background that has informed his work in the field of youth development. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the area, receiving the African Achievers Award in 2017 and being named one of the 100 Most Influential Young Africans in 2018.

Under Willice's leadership, The Youth Café has trailblazed youth-led development, managing an annual portfolio of over $1 million in grant projects and empowering thousands of young people through skills training, mentorship, and entrepreneurship programs. His commitment to youth-led development has earned him a seat at the table with global leaders, including serving as a youth representative to the UN High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons in Post-2015.

Born and raised in Kenya, Willice's passion for youth development was sparked by his experiences growing up in a disadvantaged community. He has made it his mission to ensure that young people in similar circumstances have access to the resources they need to succeed. As Executive Director of The Youth Café, Willice is committed to building a world where young people can realize their full potential and contribute to their communities. During his free time, he attends a Bachelor of Law (LL. B) training at the University of Nairobi. Willice sits on several local and international boards.

Finally, he is the author of the Kenya Youth Manifesto. This non-partisan publication unified the aspirations of the ordinary Kenyan youth into a common philosophy leading to the publication and launch of the first-ever Kenya Youth Manifesto. As a distinguished author and intellectual, he is the author of several book chapters, including the latest one titled Securitizing Youth, which Rutgers University Press recently published based on the UN Security Resolution No. 2250 on the role of young people in global peace and security. He is a published columnist with The Star Newspaper, World Economic Forum, The Standard Newspaper, Huffington Post, and Open Democracy, among other platforms.

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