Our story
A foundation born from lived experience.
How CYEF began and the conviction that keeps it going.
Founded by Vincent Muasya Mutua "Chipukeezy".
Long before the television cameras and stages, Chipukeezy understood what it meant to have ambition, talent and very few open doors. Education and comedy became the opportunities that helped him build a public voice.
As his platform grew, so did a clear conviction: many young people are equally gifted, but never receive mentorship, exposure, education, funding or a platform. CYEF exists to close that gap through schools, sport, comedy, media, conservation and partnerships.
How the model works
From one platform to a foundation
The gap CYEF was built to close.
A public platform reaches people. It does not, on its own, change what happens to them. The young performers, players and learners who came through that platform kept meeting the same walls: no route into training, no one to vouch for them, no money for school fees and no way to turn ability into an income.
CYEF was set up in 2017 to build that route deliberately rather than leave it to chance. It started in Tala, Machakos County, around a school and a football club and now runs four programs that feed into one another.
See our workMilestones
How the work has grown.
- 2017The foundation begins continuous programming in Tala, Machakos County.
- SportChipukizi FC and the St. Martin De Porres hockey team give talent a structured pathway into clubs, scouts and scholarships.
- EducationSt. Martin De Porres School anchors the work, combining academics with sport and talent development for learners from vulnerable backgrounds.
- Creative economyThe Comedy Club, The Chipukeezy Show and Empower Msanii turn creative ability into training, visibility and paid work.
- 2025The Tala Opens reaches 888 participants across 55 teams, up from 740 across 46 the year before.
Where it goes next
The story is still being written.
Meet the people running the foundation or look at how the model works in practice.