Our Journey: A Legacy of Impact
Discover the milestones that have shaped YAYA CONNECT into what it is today.
Forged by Purpose
Welcome to the story of YAYA CONNECT. From humble beginnings driven by a singular vision to a global youth center, our journey has been one of passion, perseverance, and profound impact. We invite you to explore the key moments that have defined our path and continue to inspire our mission.
Our Milestones
The Spark of an Idea
Yaya is a Congolese Lingala language word which mean ‘’big brother or big sister.’’ This vision founded by BAKWANAMAHA David from congo DRC and JACOB HAMILTON from the US, the mission is to create a vibrant innovative leader community where youth aged under 25 years old from diverse backgrounds can come as they are, be empowered through STEAM and sports education, fostering innovative leaders who excel in both fields and positively impact their communities.
The Spark of an Idea
Driven by challenges that are facing young people in through the process of self promotion in the field of art, MUNGUAHANA BUJIRIRI David a young congolese laid the foundation for BENI FROWARD IN OUR TALENTS together with a group of change makers in the eastern DRC/ BENI town. The mission was clear: to create a space where young people wherever they come from should come without stress and expose freely their talents in oder for them to find supporters and to let them promote their talent to contribute to the town development in the art domain.
The organization performed several number of youth empowerment activities since 2022 to 2024
Expanding Our Horizons by merging YAYA CONNECT and BFOT
The strategic unification of YAYA CONNECT and BFOT, effective in August2024. This period marked a new chapter, designed to significantly amplify collective impact within the youth development sector and to intentionally cultivate the next generation of holistic young leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Sport (STEAM Sport).
The combined strengths of these two organizations are set to create an unparalleled platform for fostering innovation, critical thinking, and community engagement among youth.
Adapting and Innovating
Faced with the lack of a dedicated workspace for our organization, YAYA CONNECT demonstrated resilience and creativity by concluding a partnership with
Academie Bilingue du (ABC) which is an afiliated college school of CI-UCBC
andUBUNTU, a cybernet organization
for the use of their workspace. This led to positive outcome of the adaptation such a new sustainable solutions for young people to gain knowledge, stronger community partnerships.
Our Current Impact & Future Vision
Today,YAYA CONNECT proudly border 50 student from different backgrounds in the STEAM Sport process and try as possible to bring young innovative people together by planning events and festivals to let them use their different talents background to shine the community, from 2021 to now, more than 100 young innovative leaders under 25 years old have been mentored and empowered through the YAYA CONNECT STEAM Sport program activities and they have developed growth mindset. We continue to build on our legacy by training young people in: Language, computer science with basic knowledge in the web programming design, sport (swimming, soccer, basketball, collectives games, video games), music, arts.
We envision to get a youth center whereby young people can come as they are being mentored by their YAYA (big broothers and big sisters) through STEAM Sport in order to become innovative leaders in thier community.
Our Journey Continues With You
The history of YAYA CONNECT is still being written, and every chapter is made possible by the support of people like you. Join us as we continue to make a difference.