Omeno Paul , CEO of World Youth Parliament
Paul Omeno, born November 22, 1981, was a University of Nairobi undergraduate when he and his two friends David Shitsimi and Alfred Daniel started the World Youth Parliament as a youth networking organization. An early fan of community development who had developed a "be smart" student union in high school, Omeno had previously been reprimanded by the University of Nairobi administration for his social activism and his involvement in the National Youth Parliament in Kenya and active regional Students Union.
In February of 2006, he started "The World Youth Parliament," which took the goals of National Youth Parliament and combined them with the youth networking of other youth groups and organization. Unlike National Youth Parliament, the World Youth Parliament was opt-in -- any individual youth or youth groups and organizations from around the world could join, and by the end of the year, more than several of the target groups had done so. Omeno expanded the involvement quickly, offering it to all willing institutions both federal and non profit. The WYP National Chapters were created as a companion networking offices for local WYP members, and by the end of 2008, The World Youth Parliament had over 20 chapters and over one hundred affiliate organizations.
The membership revenue made it easier to raise office capital, and Omeno and his associates rented an office in Nairobi and soon another in Geneva Switzerland. They also purchased the worldyouthparliament.org domain for the site's name. Over time, World Youth Parliament became more and more inclusive, opening its doors to all individual youth, youth organizations and NGOs. Since fall of 2008, the organization has been open to anyone who wishes to join -- a shift away from the Kenya-centric origins which many users have decried.
Meanwhile, a Globally networked World Youth Parliament programs has been added to the hierarchy, along with a platform for offering empowerment programs. Various regional offices are distributed throughout the continents namely; Nairobi-Africa, Rio-S. America, New York- N. America and Caribbean, Perth- Asia Pacific, Geneva-Europe and Mumbai- Middle East.
Omeno, who has travelled around the world on other missions moved to Nairobi to operate World Youth Parliament full time. The World Youth Parliament offices now occupy three downtown buildings.