Hope, Dreams and Dignity Take Centre Stage in New Youth Empowerment Drive
By Naif Rashid
PHOTO: HDND Foundation Founder and CEO Ms. Ruth Mueni speaking during the foundation’s launch event aimed at empowering young people through education, skills development and entrepreneurship at a Nairobi hotel on July 10th, 2026.
NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11 – The Hopes, Dreams and Dignity (HDND) Foundation has launched a new empowerment drive to support vulnerable communities and equip young people with skills, mentorship and opportunities in education, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
The initiative, unveiled during a charity gala dinner at a Nairobi hotel, seeks to promote dignity and self-reliance by bringing together stakeholders to support programmes that create opportunities for young people.
Founded by Ms. Ruth Mueni, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hopes, Dreams and Dignity (HDND) Foundation, the organisation also introduced the Executive Protocol Academy, a programme aimed at equipping individuals with professional etiquette, leadership and workplace skills.
Speaking during the event, Mueni said the foundation was inspired by the need to encourage communities to develop practical solutions to challenges affecting them.
She said the organisation was focusing on initiatives that address everyday challenges, including supporting girls’ education, improving access to sanitary products and promoting entrepreneurship as a means of creating employment opportunities.
Mueni said the proposed menstrual bank initiative was intended to provide dignity to girls and women while creating opportunities for young people through local production.
She challenged individuals to reflect on what they could do within their communities to create positive change, saying transformation begins with personal responsibility.
The HDND founder noted that the foundation had supported more than 700 girls through its programmes and partnerships, adding that plans were underway to expand support for more learners.
She urged stakeholders to pay attention to issues affecting young people, including unemployment and mental health challenges, saying mentorship and access to opportunities were critical in preparing the next generation.
Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) Board Chairman James Mureu praised the initiative, saying it demonstrated how a vision driven by passion could grow into a platform that impacts society.
Mureu observed that many entrepreneurs start with ideas and determination but face barriers that limit their ability to succeed highlighting supporting small businesses and young innovators was essential in creating employment and strengthening communities.
“It started with a dream. She came with a vision and invited us to walk the journey together. Today we are witnessing that vision becoming a reality,” Mureu said.
Chief Corporate Affairs, Marketing and Partnership Officer at Nation Media Group Dr. Monica Ndung’u said young people across Africa were already demonstrating their ability to create businesses, develop solutions and transform communities.
Ndung’u stated that institutions needed to build environments where young people’s ideas and ambitions could thrive instead of only involving them after decisions had already been made.
She said the HDND Foundation represented a shift towards creating platforms that enable young people to pursue sustainable and independent lives.
“Hope becomes powerful when people from different pathways come together to pursue it, and dignity comes from creating the conditions for people to build sustainable, independent lives,” she said.
Founder of Foyina Beauty Enterprise Lucy Wambui, popularly known as Foyina, said entrepreneurship and skills training were important tools in enabling young people, especially women, to achieve independence.
Wambui shared her journey in the beauty industry, saying access to skills enabled her to build a business while creating opportunities for others.
She stressed that empowering young people with practical skills gives them confidence, choices and the ability to determine their future.
The event brought together leaders from the private sector, media, government, academia and civil society, who pledged support towards initiatives aimed at promoting youth empowerment and community development.
