Emmanuel, a 14-year-old in Class 7, was once the “troublemaker” of his school. At home, he argued with his parents and often refused to help. At school, his teachers constantly complained about his disruptive behavior. His mother, who ran a small shop, could not trust him even to watch over it—he would steal money and be influenced by bad company.
Everything changed in March 2020, when Emmanuel attended his first Tawi session. Drawn to the games, songs, and discussions, he began to reflect on his choices. Within weeks, teachers noticed he was arriving to school early. Within months, he was entrusted with locking and unlocking classrooms daily. At home, he stopped stealing and began helping with chores.
A year later, Emmanuel stood before his school as a transformed young leader. Once shunned by classmates, he was elected President of the Student Government Council. Emmanuel now says: “The discussions in Tawi opened my eyes. They made me realize who I want to be—and who I don’t want to be.”