On most mornings, the line in front of Masaka City Hall forms before the door opens. There are those in search of jobs and others looking to grow small businesses. A few come with complaints about broken streetlights, unsafe roads or neighborhoods they feel city leaders have forgotten. Nearly all have something in common: They are young, and they want their concerns taken seriously. In Uganda, about 43 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are neither in school, nor working, nor receiving training. In a city where most residents are under 25, those statistics look a lot like the people standing in this queue.  Inside the hall, a modest office has become one of the busiest stops for those young people. There, Winfred Nansikombi spends much of her day fielding questions and relaying concerns to city officials. Winfred Nansikombi, coordinator of the Masaka Youth Desk. Credit: Malik Fahad “They always come with ideas,” she says. “Even when they are frustrated, they still come. That means they still believe something can change.” That mix of hope and frustration is hardly unique to Masaka. Across Africa, young people are demanding more jobs and a greater say in decisions that affect their lives. As urban populations grow younger, local governments are struggling to respond to those demands.  In Uganda, with one of the youngest populations in the world, those pressures cannot be hidden. In fact, in Masaka, a rapidly growing city in the southwest, they have become central to how the city thinks about governance. Weighed down by negative news? Our smart, bright, weekly newsletter is the uplift you’ve been looking for. [contact-form-7] The Masaka Youth Desk that Nansikombi coordinates is a small but increasingly influential unit within the city administration. Created to strengthen communication between young residents and local government, the desk serves as a place where young people can bring complaints and ideas directly to city officials.  “This is like a place where government and the young meet,” she says.  A city of the young Masaka is a young city in more ways than one. Around the central taxi park, young men weave through traffic selling bottled water and mobile phone accessories. Students spill out of school gates in the afternoon. The city’s energy comes from its young people. So do many of its challenges.  For Mayor Florence Namayanja, that demography has shaped the way she thought about governing almost from the moment she took office. “We cannot plan for Masaka without planning for young people,” she says. Namayanja became the first woman elected mayor of Masaka City in 2021, shortly after the municipality was elevated to city status. A former member of Parliament and former deputy mayor of Kampala, she returned to her home region at a moment when Masaka was expanding under the weight of trade and urban growth. Florence Namayanja, mayor of Masaka City, at a ceremony awarding microgrants to young people under the Masaka City Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund. Credit: Ecobrixs Located along a major transport corridor linking Kampala to western Uganda and beyond, Masaka attracts traders and job seekers from across the region. But the pace of economic opportunity has not matched the expectations of a growing youth population entering the labor market.  “Young people are often told they are the future, but many are struggling to find their place in the present,” says Martha Nalukenge, the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) officer at Equator University of Science and Technology, Masaka. “They need places where they can be heard and connected to opportunities,” Nalukenge says.    For Namayanja, the question became how to rebuild trust between young residents and the city they are shaping. Part of the answer came through Masaka’s engagement with the Strong Cities Network, a global platform linking local governments working on resilient urban governance. Through exchanges with cities such as Mombasa in Kenya, Masaka officials were exposed to new approaches to youth participation in decision-making. In 2024, those conversations led to the creation of the Youth Desk.  More than just an office Twenty-two-year-old Brian Kato walked in with low expectations. A secondary school leaver from Nyendo, he had spent nearly two years moving between casual jobs after failing to secure a place at a tertiary institution. A friend told him about the desk, and he decided to try. “I went because I heard they could link people to opportunities,” he says. “At that time, I was doing anything I could find. There was no stability.” Masaka’s energy comes from its young people. So do many of its challenges. Credit: Malik Fahad Through the desk, Kato was connected to a short vocational training program in carpentry run by a local partner organization. It did not change his life overnight, but it gave him something to do with his hands.  “I now know how to make furniture,” he says. “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m not where I was.” His experience represents only one part of the desk’s work: connecting young people to training and livelihood support in a city where opportunities are often difficult to access. The office also helps young people access programs and opportunities many do not know exist. Staff maintain a register of job seekers, share information on vacancies, connect residents to vocational training opportunities, and support applications for government funding schemes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme, a government scheme aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Young entrepreneurs also receive guidance on application processes, while others are linked to partner organizations working across the city. Mayor Namayanja at the launch of a project implemented by one of the recipients of the Youth Climate Action Fund. Credit: Anthonio Kalyango The desk also allows city officials to hear directly from young residents. Rather than waiting for residents to come to city hall, staff organize community dialogues and neighborhood meetings where young people raise concerns ranging from unemployment and safety to mental health and access to services. When patterns emerge, they are passed on to city leaders. “The desk was created to give young people a voice within city structures,” Nansikombi says. “We wanted them to know that government is not something distant.” For Anthonio Kalyango, that idea became tangible when he was selected through the Youth Desk to receive support under a $50,000 grant backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The grant helped Kalyango expand a community conservation project that trains young people to protect local wetlands.  “Before this, many of us had ideas but no way to turn them into action,” he says. “The Youth Desk helped bridge that gap.” Namayanja says the desk is also about giving young people a stake in solving the city’s problems. “We are enabling our youth to convert their visions into real-world solutions that respond to the needs of our city,” she says. However, not every concern has a quick solution.  For 19-year-old Aisha Nalubega, the issue was safety. At a community dialogue, she raised concerns about young women walking home from evening classes through poorly lit streets. She did not expect much. “But they wrote it down,” she says. “Later, we were invited again to discuss what could be done.” Wait, you're not a member yet? Join the Reasons to be Cheerful community by supporting our nonprofit publication and giving what you can. Join Cancel anytime Months on, most of the lights have still not been fixed. But the experience gave her hope. “At least now I know where to go.” For Nalukenge, this is the desk’s biggest achievement. “When [young people] feel heard and seen, it creates a relationship and a belief that they are part of the government,” she says. “It is the beginning of trust.” There are more demands than the city’s budget can meet. Not all potholes have been fixed, and street corners are still not lit. But every morning, young people continue to show up at city hall. In a city where many have grown used to being ignored, that may be the clearest sign that the desk is working.  The post The City That Doubled Down on Listening to Its Youth appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

Sometimes, personal style amplifies the best athletes. For example, Miami Marlins pitcher Johnny Cueto does a little shimmy spin move that has often gotten him good results. And Jim Furyk’s unique golf swing (involving interesting hip placement) is always fun to watch. So when a young bowler named Justin came onto the scene with his own style and moves, many were intrigued and impressed. Justin Bloomer, who has been going by the name “J-Money,” is an up-and-coming athlete who is starting to make waves in the bowling world. But his form is unlike anything many have never seen. It’s certainly unique, and it’s led to him getting strikes, winning games, and going viral. View this post on Instagram Bowling moves His moves can only be described as this: Standing away from the foul line, he takes a moment to focus. When it’s go-time, he runs toward it quickly, one arm flailing. As he gets up to the line, it looks as though his ankle rolls in and he’s perhaps about to trip entirely. And then he simply flings the ball down the lane. It’s absolutely fascinating to behold. What’s even more fascinating is how many pins he destroys with this signature move. In clip after clip, we see that the series of pre-throw motions aren’t unplanned. They seem almost meticulously chaotic, signifying that he knows exactly where to hold the ball and the speed and angle with which to throw it. In an Instagram post shared earlier this year, we see Bloomer demonstrating his process. A chyron is placed over the video which reads: “A little practice session before the weekend’s tournament.” Bloomer wears a shirt with an American flag as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” plays in the background. We see his moves and then bang! Easy strike! “Never let them know your next move.” Over 1.2 million liked the post with nearly 12,000 comments. One person compares Bloomer’s process to a math problem, writing, “One of those situations where you use the wrong formula in math but still get it right.” Others support the clip with positive, but humorous quips. “I mean if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess,” says one. Another writes, “Never let them know your next move.” View this post on Instagram This Instagrammer remembers the good old days when playing as a child was a little more free: “Man, I used to be in a league when I was a kid. I miss it so much. Have fun and God bless ya!” And yet another commenter gives a tiny glimpse into what the future might hold: “Honestly, it’s kinda cool that he’s got his own bowling style and it’s working for him. If he perfects this, he could actually draw crowds to watch him and his style in action.” Not an accident To be clear, it’s not an accident that he throws this way; Bloomer does the same move in all of his clips. In another popular Instagram post with well over half a million likes, he has two pins left and is able to do, as the chyron explains, a “nice little baby split conversion.” It’s the same series of movements: running up to the foul line, hand flailing, half trip…and bam! View this post on Instagram Again, many of the commenters cheer him on. “He’s gonna make it to the tippity top one day. Just keep up the hard work,” one says. With each clip, J-Money continues to rise in popularity and he seems to be having a great time doing it. He has even picked up some sponsors, including IM Bowling, along the way. This is mentioned in a pregame interview with Fresno Clovis Youth Bowlers, wherein they ask what his secret is. Bloomer simply replies, “Just throw it like I do.” The post Young bowler’s technique defies belief, but it doesn’t stop him from getting perfect strikes appeared first on Upworthy.

Across the United States, kids are supporting their neighbors in need with free lawn care through the nonprofit organization Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service. Founded by Rodney Smith Jr., boys and girls ages eight through 17 can sign up in their local communities to provide free lawn mowing and lawn care to the elderly, disabled, single parents, and veterans. Eleven-year-old Braden of Arkansas City, Kansas, is one of many kids helping his community. Braden is participating in the organization’s 50 Yard Challenge—to mow a total of 50 yards. The organization provides each kid with sunglasses, ear protection, and a t-shirt. And for every 10 lawns cut, the kids get a new color shirt signifying their new achievement towards 50 lawns. Braden of Arkansas City, Kansas who is taking part in our 50 yard challenge is back in action with a new lawn .lawn 6 pic.twitter.com/QNF2riMWLK— Rodney Smith Jr (@iamrodneysmith) June 8, 2026 It’s a system that keeps kids motivated. “After completing 10 lawns, they receive an orange shirt, while mowing 20 lawns earns them a green shirt,” the organization’s site shares. “Upon reaching the 30, 40, and 50 lawn milestones, they receive a blue, red, and black shirt, respectively.” Braden’s mowing goal Despite the hot temperatures and humidity, Braden has been steadily moving closer toward his goal of mowing 50 lawns—and that coveted black t-shirt. “He’s fairly new to the program but he’s been at it ever since joining,” Smith Jr. tells Upworthy. “He has already reached his 10th lawn. It’s only been two weeks or so.” Braden continues to show his dedication to his goal. “He has a great work ethic from what I can tell,” adds Smith Jr. “I believe his parents mentioned he’s aiming to be done by the end of summer and if he’s continues at this rate he will for sure.” View this post on Instagram Kids in 50 states mow lawns Lawn care provided by Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service participants has reached all 50 states to help their neighbors in need. And each month, over 30,000 lawns are mowed free of charge. “The challenge and organization continues to grow,” Smith Jr. tells Upworthy. “Over 6,000+ kids that have signed up since 2016.” Approximately 6,464 kids nationwide have signed up for the 50 Yard Challenge, with the most participants living in Oklahoma, Texas, and Michigan. During colder months, Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service shifts to shoveling snow and raking leaves. View this post on Instagram People show Braden love In the comments, many people shared their encouraging words for Braden to complete the 50 Yard Challenge, as well as for the other kids signed up in their communities: “Braden, you are rocking this! Good for you, young man! You’re amazing! Take care of yourself in this heat & humidity, too! Great work! ” “Great job Braden! Those red cheeks indicate a hot day. Hope you had plenty of water to drink.” “Good luck! You will be a blessing to so many this summer.” “I love these kids! They bring me hope!” “Thank you Braden for accepting this challenge.” “Way to go Braden! America is proud of you!!!“ “God bless these beautiful children who are making a difference and God bless you, Rodney.” The post Kansas preteen is on a mission to cut 50 lawns for free this summer to help those in need appeared first on Upworthy.

These days, many parents are obsessed with creating “core memories” for their children. The kind that stick in their minds and hearts forever and becomes a pillar of how they view their childhood. Sometimes parents go out of their way to create these moments with elaborate birthday parties, trips to Disneyland, or expensive gifts…but these things don’t always make a core memory.  The thing worth considering is that these experiences are planned by parents whose idea of what’s memorable may be drastically different from their kids’. In truth, many people’s “core memories” of childhood involve days when they were able to roam free, or something exciting or serendipitous happened out of the blue. How parents can create core memories Carol Kim, a mother of three and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, known as Parenting-Resilience on Instagram, says that the moments your child will truly remember are when parents are present and show support. “Notice how creating good memories doesn’t require expensive toys or lavish family trips. Your presence is the most valuable present you can give to your child,” Kim wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carol Kim (@parenting.resilience) Parenting with Systems, a family influencer on Threads, created a wonderful Summer Memory Map that makes it easy for parents to create core memories without shelling out a lot of cash or going on elaborate vacations. It all works on the idea that summer should be full of anticipation, participation, and repetition. The great news is that it only takes 10 minutes to plan a summer they’ll remember forever; all parents have to do is choose four “anchors.” Kids cooking with mom. Credit: Canva The Summer Memory Map is built around 4 anchors: 1. One tiny weekly ritual “Think: Friday pancakes, Sunday evening walk, library morning, backyard popsicles, post-dinner bike ride, porch ice cream. The goal is not impressive. The goal is attainable. Kids like having something to look forward to,” ParentingWithSystems notes. 2. One monthly fandango “It is not core memory Olympics. It is one slightly bigger thing on the calendar that gives the month some shape,” ParentingWithSystems writes. “Think: creek day, backyard camping, cousin sleepover, minor league baseball game, picnic dinner at the park.” 3. One kid-led choice “A lot of summer plans are made around kids without being made with kids. We pick the camp, the weekend plan, the dinner, the activity, the route, the timing, and the rules. Then we wonder why they act like tiny, disgruntled board members with no voting rights. They do not need to run the house. They do need a little ownership,” ParentingWithSystems shares.  Kids in a tent. Canva: Credit 4. One no-phone memory moment “This is not about pretending phones are evil,” ParentingWithSystems emphasizes. “But some moments need to be lived before they are documented. Pick one repeatable moment where the phone is not the main character.” The great thing about the Summer Memory Map is that it only takes a few minutes to plan and can do a great job of creating a summer that’s full of memories and, one of the best things, anticipation. But the best part is that it emphasizes what matters most: spending time together as a family.  The post Parenting expert shares how a 10-minute setup can create a summer of core memories appeared first on Upworthy.

Having your menstrual cycle disrupt your life is not unusual for women, but most of the time, we avoid mentioning it in mixed company. It’s pretty much an unspoken rule that we keep our period woes to ourselves at work, but sometimes the reality hits too hard to ignore. A woman named Indi was recently hit with that reality, and the response she got at work was a surprise. She shared in a TikTok that she had started her period and got a really bad migraine. She was hesitant to tell her younger male boss, but this was his response: @indinotindia Had me like #womenoftiktok #justgirlythings #pmdd #migraine #fyp ♬ True Jackson VP theme – Youalreadyknowbb “He showed me a drawer he has for the team that included Midol, pads and tampons,” she shared. “He said to me, ‘Nothing you say will ever gross me out. Women are people, too. go home and take a hot shower.'” “Jesus, I know we probably get on each other’s nerves but please protect this man at all costs,” she added. The boss gets his flowers People, of course, sang his praises in the comments: “I would’ve cried in that man’s face and probably make him feel uncomfortable at that point because what do you mean you’re not only sweet and understanding, you’re considerate too?! Lawd ” “The fact that it was Midol and not Tylenol makes my heart warm!” “The younger professionals are literally changing workplace culture and I LOVE this for them.” “As an HR professional for 25 years this is IT. Leader nailed it. Simply put, the feeling of belonging drives engagement. Engagement drives happiness and productivity. Sincerely be an inclusive and servant leader and you will kill it and positively impact the lives of people on your team, which should always be a priority anyway.” After her video went viral, Indi sent it to David, the boss in question, to let him know that people were gushing over him. He doesn’t use social media much, but he wrote a comment: “Hey I’m famous! Also, you never get on my nerves. I love having you on the team! :D” David also posted his first public TikTok video thanking people for their kind words and saying it was kind of weird to be responding to a viral post about what he thinks is “the bare minimum.” Oh, David, you sweet, sweet man. @davidedgerunners2 #stitch with @I N D I ♬ True Jackson VP theme – Youalreadyknowbb Then his mom got her flowers, too But the whole situation got even better when David’s mom chimed in with, “I did my best, he is a good kid. Thanks for shouting him out! Feel better!!” Naturally, women grabbed the opportunity to praise her, too, for raising David to be the kind of leader he is. “Sounds like you raised a great man, who’s now a wonderful boss! Good job mama!” “Thank you for your contribution to the world. We need more people like your son. ” “Can you give us tips on how to raise one like this? I’m ready to take notes.” “Raising a boy, PLEASE tell me what you did bc your fella is one a million!” Naturally, people had two burning questions: 1) Is the company hiring? And 2) Is David single? The answers are yes, they are hiring. The company is located in Michigan, but does not offer remote work. Contact Indi through TikTok if you’re looking for work in Michigan. And 2) No, David is not single. He’s been with his partner since middle school and “loves her somethin’ fierce,” because of course he does. Kudos to David for his thoughtful leadership, his mom for her stellar parenting, and Indi for being open about a reality that affects a good chunk of the population so we could witness this wholesome exchange in all its glory. You can follow Indi on TikTok here and you can follow David here. The post Woman praised her male boss for his response to her period woes. Then the guy’s mom chimed in. appeared first on Upworthy.