Victonell Wanjohi is from Kenya. She is passionate about youth engagement, community volunteering, and intercultural exchange. She believes voluntary service is a powerful way for young people to connect across cultures while contributing to meaningful change in their communities.
She is currently involved with Kenya Voluntary Service Organization (KVSO), her nominating organisation, where she serves as a Social Media Manager. In this role, she supports the organisation by sharing stories of volunteers, highlighting community initiatives, and promoting opportunities for young people to participate in voluntary service. Being part of KVSO has allowed her to see how storytelling and visibility can inspire more young people to get involved in volunteering.
Her connection with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) network has also been very meaningful. Through this platform, she has participated in Voices for Change project which strengthened her confidence in using her voice and reinforced her belief in the power of youth-led initiatives. Through engaging with other young people from different backgrounds, she learned how meaningful dialogue and collaboration can empower youth to advocate for issues that matter to their communities. The experience helped her better understand the importance of creating spaces where young people feel heard and encouraged to contribute their ideas, and it further motivated me to continue promoting youth participation and volunteering as tools for positive social change.
One moment that deeply shaped her love for volunteering was during one of these programmes when a local community member shared how seeing young people from different countries come together to support their heritage site gave them hope for the future. That moment reminded her that volunteering is not only about the work we do, but also about the connections, solidarity, and inspiration we create together.
Her areas of interest include youth participation, cultural heritage preservation, intercultural dialogue, and strengthening youth voices within the international voluntary service movement. She is particularly passionate about creating spaces where young people can actively engage in their communities, collaborate across cultures, and contribute to initiatives that promote solidarity, mutual understanding, and sustainable community development through volunteering.