By Keza Darlène

My name is Darlene KEZA and I'm from Burundi, a so beautiful East African Country.

I got the great opportunity of being selected in Young African Leaders Initiative Program in 2017. I was in Cohort 17. YALI has been such a driving force for me, not only for my personal growth and my personal development, but also in what I'm doing to impact the two communities that matter the most for me: Youth and Women.

Stories Behind Success ( SBS), which is made of Blogs, Leadership Conferences and a production of videos as well, is a platform I created 2 years ago, in October 2016.

However, I used to think that being brilliant at University and High School was enough to get a prestigious job after my graduation, like I've always dreamed but it was none of that. I applied so many times for jobs, without any success. And then, I started writing. Telling stories to inspire, motivate and educate Burundian Youth. Stories Behind Success wasn't already there. I was just trying to bring a positive spirit in my country, in small ways, through what I love.
Two months after, I had an idea to share those stories in a different way. Through a leadership conference where young Burundians could share their stories related to their Business Journey. But on this time, to organize a conference, I had to find a name of what I was doing. And then, Stories Behind Success was born. Entrepreneurship Talk was then, the topic of our first conference.

After that, came other ideas in my mind and I also started doing some videos. It is such a great joy to do what I love in my life. And when people tell me: "Thank you for your blog. Thank you for your video... It was inspiring", I have this feeling that my life finally found its purpose. Doing what I love the most in my life while impacting people's lives.

And when comes the matter of how I get money in what I'm doing, I remember I had to give some false informations sometimes. I was like: " People are going to laugh at me. How can a person do something without being paid for 2 years??"

Because, sincerely, the only time I got some money was when I organized the conference. People had to pay to attend the conference. But with time, I got more confidence and today, I simply answer: "I'm a passionate communicator and blogger but my social business doesn't generate enough income yet, but it surely will in the future."

By the same time, I propose my services to some Burundian Companies as Communicator, to get some money I could invest in SBS. I hope to get on the point where SBS will be financially secure to give employment to Burundian and African Youth.

So, coming back to YALI, I will always be thankful for my teachers who have been great motivators and mentors to me. Mr Amadou Chico Cissoko once told me: "Why can't you do what you are actually doing for Africa, instead of doing it only for Burundi? Write to inspire Africans. Do your conferences for Africans. Extend your vision." Thank you Mr Chico, today SBS exists to impact African Youth.

Mr Imran Vaghoo, Thank you for having told us: " Dare to have crazy dreams ".
I will make my dreams happen,  for sure.
Today, I'm raising my bar everyday because of you. Thank you YALI. The sky ain't the limit!!! It's all about LIVING PASSIONATELY.

You can find Stories Behind Success on Facebook, Instagram and You Tube:
https://www.facebook.com/storybehindsuccess/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KCsn_0EMOusbvLi7-EFiA