Youth, Innovation, Impact: St. Joseph Kangemi at AACOSE 2025

Igniting Youth Innovation at AACOSE 2025

We were honored to represent St. Joseph Kangemi, through the JYSEA Program, at the 8th Annual African Conference on Social Entrepreneurship (AACOSE), held from May 14th to 16th, 2025, at Tangaza University, Nairobi, Kenya. The conference brought together social innovators and changemakers from all across Africa to explore sustainable, youth-led solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges.

We are deeply grateful to the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN) for generously sponsoring our participation. Through their support, our team comprising Edward Musungu, Nelly Agisa, and Joseph Njoroge was honored to engage fully in this transformative learning experience. Mr. Alfred Munyao, was privileged to attend the first day of the conference.

Our Experience: Showcasing Innovation and Building Connections

One of the most significant moments for us was the opportunity to showcase our eco-friendly charcoal briquette project under the Ignatian Eco-Waste Solutions initiative to a larger audience.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS;

Exhibition Interaction: We engaged with numerous social entrepreneurs across Africa, exchanging ideas and learning about innovative solutions addressing community challenges.
Showcasing Our Project: Our team proudly showcased our product on charcoal briquettes made from recycled organic waste. This presentation attracted interest and enabled us to connect with potential investors and collaborators.

Lessons That Will Shape Our Future Work

We saw firsthand the power of youth-driven innovation in creating scalable, sustainable solutions.
Storytelling emerged as a vital tool in pitching social enterprises and connecting with broader audiences.
The summit emphasized the importance of integrating environmental responsibility into every phase of a project.
We gained deeper insight into building partnerships and leveraging networks for greater impact.

A Heartfelt Thanks to AJAN

We wish to sincerely thank AJAN for making this experience possible. Their support enabled us not only to participate but to grow as learners, leaders, and change agents. The knowledge, networks, and motivation we gained will undoubtedly shape the way we approach our community work moving forward.

Inspired to Act: Moving Forward with Renewed Purpose

AACOSE 2025 was more than a conference; it was a turning point. We returned inspired, better equipped, and ready to elevate our project with renewed purpose and better strategies. We look forward to sharing these insights with our fellow youths. Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to AJAN for their invaluable support.

AACOSE Conveners

AACOSE is a Pan-African convening that provides opportunities for actors in social entrepreneurship. It provides the space for mutual learning, co-creation, networking, and creating new narratives that can contribute to social transformation in Africa.

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