Background and Foundation

YesWeAre was founded by Maria Utbult, who currently serves as Director. In 2020, Maria began developing the lessons that form the foundation of our work. The first 100 lessons were created for the East African context, developed in collaboration with high school students in Kenya and Uganda.

At the heart of YesWeAre’s work is the belief that our thoughts shape our actions, and over time, these actions become patterns of behavior. To change behavior that negatively affects many people, we must first change the underlying thought patterns. The YesWeAre concept therefore emphasizes reflection and discussion about the consequences of different thought and behavior patterns. The examples used in discussions are drawn from the everyday lives of children and young people and are age-appropriate for the group being addressed.

Through this approach, participants learn to identify a problem, develop one or more solutions, and evaluate the consequences of those solutions. This method helps children and young people understand situations, reflect on the impact of their choices, and be motivated to create positive change.

YesWeAre lesson materials are age-adapted for three groups: 4-7 years, 8-12 years, and 13-20 years. All lessons are contextually adapted and translated for the area in which they are used. Each lesson begins with an image, and the children and young people in the image should resemble those in the local context. It is important that the children or young people targeted by a lesson can see themselves reflected in the images and situations presented. 

YesWeAre’s mission is to empower and educate children and youth. While young people lead the clubs and carry out advocacy activities themselves, YesWeAre remains a source of guidance and support for each club.

Current Status

Today (January 2026) the foundation collaborates with around 20 schools and organizations in Kenya. We are also working with schools in the Gothenburg area to develop and expand the Swedish materials.

In collaboration with a group of young adults from Ukraine, we are adapting and translating materials for use in Ukraine. Our partner organization is the Ukrainian Association in Gothenburg.

We also plan to translate and adapt materials for the Middle East in Arabic.

We expect to expand to more countries between 2026 and 2028 and continue growing in the years beyond.

YesWeAre materials will be available on a learning platform, and currently, they are accessible in printed form.

Future Plans

YesWeAre is building a network of partner organizations in various countries, as well as collaborating with other aid and development organizations. We welcome other organizations subscribing to the YesWeAre learning platform to access and use our materials.

There are also opportunities for individuals, companies, and organizations to collaborate with YesWeAre. We are open to conducting training for other development organizations, schools, sports clubs, municipalities, companies, and more.

YesWeAre’s vision is “A world where people live with integrity.” We work tirelessly toward this vision and seek to partner with as many organizations and individuals as possible to create ripple effects and achieve broader impact.