How talk to students birthed Mombasa motivation group Future Pillars

In March last year, Samir Hashim was invited to talk to students of Allidina Visram High School in Mombasa. The invitation was from Ms Elye Abbas, a Form One class teacher.

What Samir didn’t know was that accepting this invitation would be an opening to the formation of a youth-led community-based organisation — Future Pillars — that is now helping transform education among students in Mombasa, challenging the narrative that local learners are underachievers.

When Samir was invited to talk to the Allidina Visram students, he sought the backing of Ahlam Swaleh, a social worker in Mombasa County, and Haytham Isse, a community champion.

“We went to the class, and the energy was just incredible. The students were so engaged, and by the end of the session, they were asking when we would come back,” Samir told The Eastleigh Voice.

Hashim says the impact of that initial session was immediate. Within two months, the class showed marked academic improvement, and the teacher, Elye Abbas, who had initiated the invitation, was promoted to head of the guidance and counselling department.

Encouraged by these results, the team was invited to extend their mentorship to the entire school.

With success at Allidina Visram High School, the group started receiving more invitations.

"We posted photos of our sessions on social media, and young people started reaching out, wanting to join as volunteers," Samir said.

Today, Future Pillars operates from an office in Mombasa, running several programmes aimed at empowering the youth. These include computer literacy classes, the Mombasa Jitambue programme for talent development, and a tuition programme in partnership with the county government.

Mentors from the Future Pillars organisation during a motivational session at Allidina Visram High School in Mombasa. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein/EV)

Fahmy Sufyan, a 16-year-old Form Two student at Ribe Boys, is one of the many students who have benefited from Future Pillars, which he says turned his life around.

“Last December, during the holidays, I came with my parents for a guidance and counselling session. That was when I met the Future Pillars mentors. On the first day, we did a guidance and counselling session, and afterwards, I visited their office. I saw computers there, and after a few lessons, I learned basic computer skills,” Fahmy said.

During school holidays, Fahmy attends sessions at Future Pillars, which he says have helped him nurture his talent and skills.

“The tuition centres they have opened have also greatly helped me, and this has reflected in my academic performance. I used to get a D, but this year, I have moved up to a C plain, and at the end of the term, I got a B minus,” said Fahmy.

Transformed outlook

Fahman Fahmy, a former student at Allidina Visram High School, is also a beneficiary of Future Pillars mentorship sessions, which he says transformed his outlook and academics.

Fahman noted that before the mentorship sessions started, students attended school without much direction.

"We were just coming to school, and at the end of the day, we would go back home. We weren’t giving schooling the priority it needed. But when Future Pillars started conducting mentorship talks, students felt guided and became focused."

After completing his secondary school education, Fahman asked to join Future Pillars as a mentor.

"I wanted to give other students the same opportunity that I got. I am currently the office administrator and secretary of all tuition centres under the Future Pillars organisation. I work under ICT, offering students advanced packages, and I’m also part of Mombasa Jitambue, which helps students know the path they want to take in career choices," he said.

These are some of the many success stories of beneficiaries of the mentorships done by Future Pillars.

According to Mohamed Zubeir, the chairman of Future Pillars’ board of directors, the journey to success has not been easy.

Future Pillars members together with their mentees during a team building exercise at a Mombasa beach. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

From the initial mentorship sessions at Allidina Visram, the group went to other schools like Eman Girls Education Centre in Nyali and now Khamisi Secondary School.

The success of Future Pillars has not gone unnoticed by both teachers and parents.

Henry Makoha, a teacher at Allidina Visram High School, has seen first-hand the difference the organisation has made.

"Since we started mentorship in the school, we have seen tremendous improvement in terms of students’ performance and discipline. We must understand that our students come from diverse backgrounds, and they face challenges at home, which affect their performance in school. Future Pillars has helped bridge that gap," Makoha said.

His sentiments were echoed by Dishon Indimuli, the principal of Allidina Visram High School.

"We have a responsibility to take care of children in school and ensure that they grow up into responsible citizens. This is where Future Pillars came in, and since they started, we have seen students come out, share their fears, anxieties, and problems, and also give solutions. This has been made very easy due to the way this particular group has been interacting and conducting their sessions," Indimuli said.

Parents have also been vocal in their support for the organisation.

" Future Pillars are doing a great job in shaping our children, not only academically. My son, who joined the tuition, really impressed us with his results. He used to get a D minus, but after joining the tuition programme, he got a C plain. That’s a big change, and we owe it to Future Pillars," said Umi Haitham, a parent.

Future Pillars has ambitious plans to continue expanding its reach. The organisation is opening new offices and initiating a graduate programme, ensuring that those who have benefited from their mentorship can continue to receive guidance and support as they navigate their future careers.

"We’re proud of what we’ve achieved, but this is just the beginning. We’re committed to making sure that every student in Mombasa has the opportunity to succeed, both in school and in life," said Samir.