THE PROBLEM
Organized criminal networks have entrenched themselves within communities, preying on systemic poverty and limited opportunities to recruit vulnerable children and youths for illicit activities. According to the Global Organized Crime Index, Kenya holds a criminality score of 7.02, ranking 16th globally, 4th in Africa, and number 1 in East Africa—positions that underscore the severity and sophistication of these networks within our borders.
With 38.6 % of Kenyans living below the national poverty line and 67 % of 15–34‑year‑olds unemployed, our nation’s brightest talents are left idle, desperate, and susceptible to the lure of quick but deadly “solutions”. In slums—where 65 % of the population are children and youths—lack of education, skills deficits, and economic exclusion have created fertile ground for junior gang recruitment, with children and youths being deployed to sell drugs, hide firearms and store the proceeds of crime normalizing illicit behaviors from as young as ten years old. Every moment without intervention tightens the grip of these networks on our children and youths. If we fail to act now, we risk permanently sacrificing a generation—our most valuable resource—to a cycle of exploitation, violence, and broken futures.
ABOUT US
YOLARA is a non-profit based in Kenya that was founded in the year 2020.
Our organization was born out of the urgent need to protect children and youths from being recruited into organized criminal networks.
Too often, vulnerable children and youths are drawn into crime due to poverty, lack of education, and limited employment options. We break this cycle by providing viable alternatives—practical pathways to earning a legal income, developing skills, and building meaningful lives.
We believe that every young person deserves access to safe, legitimate, and empowering opportunities to build a better future.
OUR APPROACH
We believe that meaningful transformation requires addressing multiple, interconnected factors in a young person’s life. Our model weaves together protective intervention, access to opportunity, informed choice-making, and a sense of belonging. Each element reinforces the other, creating a resilient foundation that supports children and youth as they navigate complex challenges. By addressing root causes and providing sustained support across different aspects of life, we pave the way for lasting impact—because change in isolation is never enough.
1. Pro-bono Legal Representation
In Kenya’s underserved communities, indigent children and youths are often thrust into the criminal justice system not as criminals, but as victims—of poverty, neglect, and exploitation. Without access to legal representation, a child accused of petty theft may spend years on remand, exposed to hardened offenders and the predatory reach of organized crime.
This legal invisibility fuels a dangerous cycle. Gangs and traffickers prey on unrepresented youths, offering protection, money, or belonging—turning childhood despair into criminal enterprise.
Pro bono legal representation is more than courtroom advocacy—it is rescue, redirection, and reform. With legal aid, a child can be diverted from incarceration to education, from stigma to opportunity. Early legal intervention reduces reoffending and restores dignity dismantling the pipelines into Kenya’s criminal networks. Each child defended is a life reclaimed—and a community protected.
The choice is clear: we can either let poverty continue to recruit for organized crime, or we can invest in justice that heals and prevents. Let us stand for Kenya’s future—one child, one case, one victory at a time
2. Pathways to sustainable self- employment
We provide training to indigent youths in essential life skills—resilience, leadership, financial literacy—and business management. Teaching them how to develop viable business plans, navigate marketing strategies, and manage finances. But we don’t stop at training; we provide what many programs fail to—direct access to start-up capital and long-term mentorship.
Youth participants embark on a dynamic learning journey that includes workshops followed by one-on-one mentorship with experienced entrepreneurs to develop a solid business plan, after which they will receive seed funding and ongoing incubation support. This holistic model is designed to empower youth with both the “know-how” and the “do-it” support to transform their futures ensuring that their ventures not only launch successfully but also thrive in the long run.
3. Outreach and Community Engagement Activities
At YOLARA, we reach young people where they are—before the streets do.Through school outreach, we equip students with knowledge, confidence, and support to resist gang recruitment. In the community, we use art, music, and football to build trust, spark dialogue, and offer positive alternatives.Every match played, every story shared, is a step away from crime—and a step toward hope.
See our impact in action. Watch our short documentary to discover how YOLARA uses football, art, and grassroots outreach to shield vulnerable youth from organized crime and help them rewrite their stories.
👉 Watch the Documentary here: https://youtu.be/T615PqY38YQ?feature=shared
OUR PARTNERS
