World Vision has celebrated the graduation of 335 community members under its Community Change Programme in Lamu, marking a significant milestone in efforts to empower communities to address challenges affecting children, families and vulnerable groups.
The graduates, drawn from different sections of the community including youth, women, elders and persons with disabilities, have been equipped with knowledge and skills to identify community priorities, mobilise local action and develop solutions in areas including education, child protection, agriculture and livelihoods, water, peacebuilding, disaster preparedness and community resilience.
The graduation ceremony brought together community members, government representatives, local leaders, World Vision staff and other stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of the graduates and highlight the importance of communities taking ownership of their development.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lamu County Director for Disaster Management and Peace Building, Shee Kupi Shee, commended World Vision for its continued investment in the people of Lamu and its support for community-led development.
“World Vision has contributed immensely to the work we are doing in disaster risk management and peacebuilding in Lamu. Their support has strengthened the capacity of communities to understand their risks, organise themselves and develop local solutions,” Shee said.
He noted that the value of the Community Change Programme lies in its integrated approach to addressing issues that directly affect the wellbeing of children and communities.
“Today we are celebrating more than certificates. We are celebrating communities that have been empowered to become agents of change. Whether it is education, protection of children, water, agriculture, livelihoods, peace or disaster preparedness, communities must have the capacity to identify their challenges and take action to address them,” he said.
Shee said empowering communities to address these interconnected challenges contributes to building stronger and more resilient households.
“When we invest in communities, we are investing in children, families and the future of Lamu. An empowered community is better able to protect its children, support education, improve livelihoods, manage water challenges, prepare for disasters and build peaceful relationships,” he said.
Shee also recognised World Vision’s contribution to Lamu’s broader peacebuilding journey, including its support to disaster risk management and peacebuilding initiatives that contributed to the county’s wider recognition through the UCLG Peace Prize.
“The UCLG Peace Prize was a recognition of collective effort. It reflected the work of the County Government, communities and development partners. World Vision contributed immensely to that journey through its support to disaster risk management and peacebuilding, and we sincerely appreciate that partnership,” he said.
He called for the partnership between World Vision and the County Government to be further strengthened to reach more communities and build on the progress already made.
“We appreciate the partnership we have with World Vision, but we believe there is an opportunity to do much more together. We would like to see this partnership strengthened further so that we can reach more vulnerable communities and strengthen work around education, child protection, livelihoods, water, resilience and peacebuilding,” Shee said.
The Guest of Honour, World Vision Lamu Manager Mr. Michael Mulei, congratulated the 335 graduates and urged them to use their knowledge to continue driving positive change within their communities.
“We are proud of the commitment demonstrated by these community members. This graduation is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning of their responsibility as community change agents. We encourage them to take the knowledge and skills they have gained and use them to create positive change within their families and communities,” Mulei said.
Mulei said the Community Change Model is designed to encourage communities to identify and address issues that affect their wellbeing, with particular attention to children and vulnerable households.
“The Community Change approach recognises that communities understand their challenges best. Our role is to support them to identify those challenges, bring people together and develop solutions. Whether the issue is education, child protection, agriculture, water, livelihoods or peace, sustainable change comes when communities take ownership,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of protecting children and ensuring that community development efforts create an environment where children can learn, grow and thrive.
Mulei also urged communities to remain vigilant and prepare early for potential impacts associated with El Niño and heavy rainfall, stressing the importance of early warning and community preparedness.
“We want to encourage our communities to remain vigilant and prepare early for the expected weather-related challenges. Disaster preparedness starts within the community, and World Vision remains committed to working with communities and government partners to strengthen preparedness, awareness and response,” Mulei said.
He urged residents to pay close attention to early warning information, protect vulnerable members of society and work collectively to reduce disaster risks.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, Mulei called on communities to protect peace and social cohesion in Lamu, particularly urging young people not to allow themselves to be exploited for political violence.
“As we look towards the 2027 elections, we want to encourage our communities, especially our young people, to protect the peace and stability of Lamu. Our youth should never be used as weapons by anyone for political purposes. They should be agents of peace, development and positive change,” Mulei said.
He urged communities to embrace dialogue, tolerance and peaceful participation in democratic processes.
“Elections come and go, but our communities remain. We must protect our relationships, our families and our future. Let us choose peace, dialogue and stability, and ensure that young people are given opportunities to build their future rather than being manipulated into conflict,” he said.
Mulei emphasised that achieving sustainable change requires collaboration between communities, government and development partners.
“No single organisation can address all the challenges facing our communities. We value our partnership with the Lamu County Government because working together enables us to combine our strengths and respond better to the priorities identified by communities themselves,” he said.
Shee similarly reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with World Vision and other development partners.
“A community that is empowered, organised and able to work together is better prepared to manage disasters, protect vulnerable people, prevent conflict and create opportunities. Community empowerment is therefore not only a development strategy; it is also an investment in peace and resilience,” Shee said.
The graduation of the 335 community members represents an important milestone in World Vision’s efforts to strengthen locally led development in Lamu.
Through the Community Change Programme, communities are being supported to take collective action on issues affecting children and families, including education, child protection, agriculture and livelihoods, water, peacebuilding, disaster preparedness and resilience.
The event reaffirmed the shared commitment of World Vision, Lamu County Government and local communities to strengthen partnership and expand community-led approaches that can deliver lasting improvements in the lives of children and communities across Lamu County.