MASK Create

https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/events/2026-01-16-mask-awards-to-celebrate-young-creativity-in-nairobi

MASK Awards to celebrate young creativity in Nairobi The 2025 edition will be held at Sarakasi Dome on January 30

We’re proud to recognise The Star, the Kenya’s leading independent daily newspapers, as

OUTSTANDING MEDIA PATRON OF YOUNG CREATIVITY IN KENYA.

Founded in Nairobi, The Star is known for its bold, fresh, and independent editorial voice. Over the years, it has become a major national news platform, covering community stories, politics, social issues, and culture with clarity and courage.

The Star’s support of MASK Awards began in 2012, when MASK’s founder, Alla Tkachuk, invited the newspaper’s founding editor, William Pike, to support a national vision: to promote creativity across Kenya. That vision was generously embraced.

Since then, the partnership has helped amplify young creative voices across Kenya and promote MASK Awards in 67 countries worldwide — demonstrating the power of media to enable cultural growth and innovation at scale.

We thank The Star for its long-standing commitment to creativity, youth voices, and meaningful national impact.


KICD Kenya The Star, KenyaTheStarKenya

Celebrating Innovators! 🌟

We’re proud to announce the MASK Awards'

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR 2025 -

goes to these three winners, recognising their bold solutions in response to Global Goals challenges:

✨ Teagan Tierney — USA
No Hunger challenge

Teagan’s idea, ‘Services into Currency’, reimagines how helping others could itself become a form of value exchange.

✨ Alvin Kiptoo — Kenya
Create Your Own Job challenge

Alvin’s ‘Embroidered QR’ solution blends tradition and tech — turning hand-stitched scannable codes into a bridge between culture and digital opportunity.

✨ Pat Lochanakosin — Thailand
Moral Compass Challenge

Pat’s ‘Ethics Labs’ concept creates interactive spaces where students can practice ethical decision-making in real-world scenarios.

These young creators inspired the judges with their originality, confidence, and ability to turn creativity into real impact — locally and globally. 🌍💡

Congratulations to all the young innovators shaping the future through creativity! 💫