After the shortlisting for the Youth City-Changing Faces Competition was done, the question on everyone’s mind was ‘how will these 9 dynamic youth teams turn their bold ideas into real change on the ground?’…Before paintbrushes, gardens and clean-ups, the teams gathered for a crucial grant management training led by Public Space Network. This training was about more than numbers! It was learning the skills that make projects last. The teams were taken through the essentials of managing their grants responsibly: how to open a group bank account with 3 signatories for transparency, how to build a budget that matches their vision and how to practice accountability so that every shilling can be traced back to the transformation it creates. They also learned the basics of grant reporting and financial best practices; the kind of knowledge that gives ambition the tools needed to turn into tangible action.

For many, this was an eye-opener. One participant summed it up perfectly: “Before, we had ideas. Now we also have the confidence to manage the money that will bring those ideas to life.” That shift matters, because well-managed funds mean well-delivered projects and that’s exactly what you are waiting to see. Already, the teams are making progress. Budgets are being drawn, group bank accounts are being set up and conversations within the groups are shifting from “what if” to “when.” And with site visits by judges coming up in mid-November, every step taken now brings the projects closer to reality. So, how will these nine teams carry their momentum from the training into the ground-breaking work ahead? Which ideas will shine brightest once creativity and accountability meet in the open public spaces of Kamukunji, Korogocho and Dandora? From launching to shortlisting to training, you’ve been following this journey. Keep walking with us because the next chapter is where it gets even more exciting; where ideas break ground. Catch the highlights of how the training went here