About
Us
Brain Youth Group empowers communities to restore nature and shape a sustainable future.
Our Story
We are the Brain Youth Group (BYG), a registered Community-Based Organisation (CBO) that was formed in 2011. Our members are from the Junda sub-location, Kisauni constituency in Mombasa County, Kenya. The group consists of 33 members, including widows, girls, single mothers, and youths between 18 and 35 years old.
The problem we are addressing stems from the significant degradation of mangrove forests in Tudor Creek. The forest cover has been reduced from 1641 ha to 215 ha. This destruction is a result of natural calamities, such as the 1997 El Niño rains that caused siltation, as well as human activities like digging for fish bait.
Core Values of Brain Youth Group
Innovation & Creativity
We embrace fresh thinking and bold solutions to address the challenges facing our communities and our planet.
Youth Empowerment
We believe in the power of young people to lead change, make decisions, and shape their future.
Community-Centered Action
Our work is rooted in listening to, learning from, and building with our communities.
Integrity & Accountability
We hold ourselves to high ethical standards, taking responsibility for our actions and being transparent in all we do.
Equity & Inclusion
We celebrate diversity and work to ensure that everyone regardless of background has a voice and opportunity to thrive.
Sustainability
We are committed to long-term impact socially, economically, and environmentally.
Collaboration & Partnership
We grow stronger through partnerships, collective action, and learning from others.
Mission and Vision
To drive sustainable development in coastal Kenya by:
- Restoring critical mangrove ecosystems and terrestrial forests
- Providing alternative incomes through green enterprises (beekeeping, marine farming, ecotourism)
- Educating communities on climate resilience and conservation
- Championing gender equality by centering women and youth in leadership roles
To transform Kenya’s coast into a thriving, climate-resilient region by:
- Restoring 1,850 hectares of degraded mangroves in Tudor Creek
- Planting 300 million trees by 2030 (200M mangroves + 100M fruit trees) under our Coastal Greening Belt Initiative
- Creating 500+ green jobs for youth and women in conservation-linked sectors
- Establishing a global model for community-led ecosystem restoration
SDGs addressed
BYG’s work is a catalyst for 7 UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Mangrove degradation
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout.
215 ha
1641 ha
2025
1980
Our Team
Mbaarak Abdalla
Founder and Program Director
Mary Gona
Project Manager
Eunice Kalewa
Organization Secretary
Nancy Cheki
Chief Financing Officer
Husna Khan
Communication and Public Consultant
Derius Kililo
Organizing Secretary
Mustafa Wendo
Head of Bee Keeping
Allan Kililo
Assistant
Alejandra Garcia
Global Advisor
Partners
We welcome partnerships with NGOs, civil society groups, governments and private sector allies aligned with our mission.
Current Donors
Strategic Partners
Previous Donors
