Our History

Founded in 2006 by Niecy Dennis, Workforce Development Global Alliance (WDGA) is an international not-for-profit organization that inspires youth of Kenya to see “hope” where they live and become the ‘change’ they want to see. A 13-year old dropout student named Metrine inspired WDGA’s inception when asking Niecy: “what good is education if it means coming back here!” – and here was a mud hut in Nakuru.

By April 2007, WDGA selected 250 charter students from Nakuru Kenya schools for its program. For nine months, these students participated in worksite tours, job shadow days, and career assessment workshops. The training resulted in an average academic improvement of 62 percentage points.

In 2008, violence erupted in Kenya due to the presidential elections. WDGA helped the Red Cross relief effort in Nakuru for hundreds of displaced families. Later that year, WDGA hosted its first Peace Conference with corporate leaders, educators and students to discuss WDGA’s program realignment.

By early 2009, WDGA held its inaugural Peace Summit and Peace Walk in Nakuru Kenya and the Peace Ambassador program was launched. The 250 charter students and 250 new youth were inducted into the program and 42 Peace Trees were planted to commemorate each tribe and those who lost their homes and lives during the elections violence and tribal rivalries.

In 2010, WDGA’s training program was renamed the 2STEPS2WORK Program and held its 2nd and 3rd 2STEPS2WORK Peace Summit. In 2011, the Youth Leadership Council was established and Metrine who has now completed Form 4 (high school) is one of the youth leaders.