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7mon agoPERPETUA ETYANGRealtime
Have you ever wondered who makes the future, and how? It certainly doesn’t just happen on its own. The future doesn't invent itself. It’s made by people, creative people, who generate ideas and have the passion to bring them to life.
That’s why, more than a decade ago, together with the Star, education charity MASK launched MASK Awards, a platform dedicated to celebrating creativity and innovation among young people in Kenya and beyond.
Through the MASK Awards, thousands of children and youths have showcased their inventiveness and resourcefulness, inspiring their peers to follow a creative path. The mission of this non-profit initiative is to empower the next generation to shape a better world.
Here is the story of one extraordinary young woman, Hellen, a former MASK student whose creativity transforms lives. Born and raised in a small village in Kenya, Hellen grew up with a simple routine: fetch water from the river, go to school, repeat. That was her world, until one day, MASK brought creativity workshops to her school.
Through art, Hellen began to discover and strengthen her creativity: a new way of thinking, imagining and aspiring. It was empowering. Life wasn’t just about surviving anymore, it was about creating. “I started connecting the dots,” she says. “I couldn’t believe myself.”
Her creativity grew, alongside deep confidence and a hunger to innovate. While studying analytical chemistry in college, she went on to design a new drug in her final year. “I wanted to innovate everything!” she declared. And she meant it.
That powerful combination of creativity and confidence launched Hellen into a series of impressive roles. Within weeks of joining companies, she was promoted to senior positions. Today, she works at a leading global firm in Nairobi and is raising a young family.
But creativity is never just personal, it always seeks to be shared. Recently, Hellen turned her creative energy toward solving youth unemployment. She saw too many young people stuck, waiting to be employed, while the lack of jobs led to deep personal and societal struggles.
Her advice? “Employ yourself. Start an online business. Create value, and the money will follow.” Hellen founded a mentorship and coaching programme to help young Kenyans take charge of their futures.
“What motivates me is hearing from my mentees,” she says. “Watching their anxiety transform into positive action and belief — that’s everything.”
Follow Hellen’s work at www.gchuks.com and beacons.ai/helleng.
Now it’s your turn to change the game. If you're a school (public or private) or a young person under 25, enter the MASK Awards 2025 and share your creativity with the world.
Last year, young people from 56 countries participated. Win titles like Innovator of the Year, Artist of the Year or Creative School of the Year. Participation is free and entry is easy: just two simple steps online.
Submit your best artwork in the Art category, or your brightest solutions in the Innovation category. This year’s innovation themes are: ‘Youth Entrepreneurship’, ‘Zero Hunger’ and ‘Moral Compass’.
Enter now before the deadline of September 1: https://maskcreate.org/mask-awards/
The future needs your creativity. Don’t wait for the future — create it.
Alla Tkachuk is the founder of the award-winning charity MASK, which transforms education through creativity.
Donate to MASK and inspire a generation of young changemakers: https://maskcreate.org
