Joel: How creativity transformed his life and community

At age 15, Joel joined MASK's Creativity Club at his school in a remote village in West Laikipia, Kenya. What began as an after-school art workshop quickly became a transformative experience.

During his first session, Joel painted a remarkable picture of wildlife and, in astonishment, exclaimed, “I didn’t know I could do this!” That moment of self-discovery sparked a deep passion for creativity that would leave a lasting impact on his life.

As Joel’s confidence grew, so did his involvement. He soon became an integral part of the Club, helping transition it into a student-led initiative. He managed the Club, set workshop themes, and maintained records, regularly sending updates on its progress. His leadership and determination ensured the Club’s success, which eventually became almost entirely student-run.

In 2010, Joel attended MASK's two-week residential camp in Nairobi, where he and a dozen fellow MASK students painted, performed, and participated in competitions and discussions. The camp featured a masterclass by renowned Kenyan artist Kivuthi Mbuno, a visit to an exhibition at the Nairobi Gallery, and a meeting with Kenya’s Minister for Culture, William Ole Ntimama. There, Joel and his peers showcased their paintings and explored the role of art in education.

Joel’s creativity soon began to pay off. After the Camp, he shared the exciting news that he had painted a street mural of an elephant in Nairobi, which led to a local restaurateur commissioning him to create another mural for one of his fish establishments. The funds from these projects allowed Joel to rent a room outside Nairobi, where he lived and transformed the space into an art gallery, welcoming local children to view his paintings.

Joel eventually returned to his village to care for his mother. There, he noticed an unused borehole and land belonging to a local school. He proposed to the headmaster that they create a vegetable farm to provide fresh produce for the students’ meals. The headteacher agreed, and Joel began earning a salary for his efforts.

While working at the school, Joel also initiated another important project—gathering the parents of his students to explain the “goodness of art” and its importance in their children’s development. This was inspired by his own mother, who had not supported his involvement with the Creativity Club, as she didn’t see the value of art. However, once she understood how the skills he developed were shaping his future, she became supportive and even encouraged him. Joel, seeing the potential in other parents, wanted to share this perspective with them. This valuable method of working with parents was later incorporated into MASK’s work.

Joel’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to flourish. Over the years, he started several ventures, including a gym where he crafted his own dumbbells and charged local youth a membership fee to use them. He also painted his bike in zebra stripes, proudly noticing the approval from villagers who saw him riding it. Of course, challenges arose—one day, his dumbbells were stolen—but Joel's resilience remained unshaken.

His creativity didn’t go unnoticed. One day, village elders, typically reluctant to involve young people in local governance, invited Joel to their meeting to ask for “good ideas on how to improve the community.” Joel was thrilled: “I am respected now! I feel I make a difference.”

Joel’s journey reached an international milestone in 2012 when he represented MASK at the UNESCO International Institute of Educational Planning’s (IIEP) ‘Planning With Youth’ policy forum in Paris, France. Speaking to an audience of 200 global delegates, including the Kenyan Minister for Youth, Joel emphasised the importance of creativity and art in education. His powerful presentation was widely praised, with organisers noting his ability to engage with policymakers and academics.

Reflecting on his journey, Joel shared: "MASK helped me become an entrepreneur, a leader, and to think outside the box. Creativity keeps my mind, spirit, and emotions always engaged.” He went on to add, “Before I started with MASK, I didn’t know I was creative.”

This statement has resonated profoundly with us—how many young people navigate through life without recognising their inherent creative potential, never realising its transformative power to shape success, to shape their futures?