The inspired work in progress
Welcome to my digital space where I share my journey, insights, and experiences as a University of Waterloo graduate, entrepreneur, and changemaker navigating the intersection of education, innovation, and social impact.
Get to know me
Thank you for hopping onto the Darren Baine Blog! This page is my small repository for all the things I have been involved in! But first, here’s my short story for context.
I am the first born in a family of four. Born and raised in the Pearl of Africa, Kampala, Uganda. My education journey started and ended with Aga Khan Education Services, doing the International General Certificate of Secondary Education and later the IB Diploma Program.
I graduated from the University of Waterloo. I am a football fanatic and proud supporter of Manchester United!
Interesting facts
I did Football tryouts with Barnet FC in London summer 2018.
I was the youngest Uganda top 40 under 40 winner at just 19 years old!
What is this blog?
The Darren Baine blog was born out of a necessity and a desire to share parts of how I put the pieces together for my peers. The mission is to inform by sharing these stories and hope they inspire you and myself to continue creating impact.
Explore articlesA journey in the making
01
Graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Science, Biology minor and Bioinformatics option, and received the Cobalt Faculty of Science IDEAL Scholar Award.
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Participated in the United Cities and Local Governments Annual Congress in Tangier, joining global leaders and youth advocates in conversations about the future of cities and local government.
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Invited to speak at the Lanterna Black Innovation Hub regional innovation dialogue and growth exchange in Waterloo.
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Launched my first book – Degrees of Change at the Kitchener Public Library.
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Awarded the Integenerational Award at the annual Kitchener Youth Awards 2026 hosted by the City of Kitchener.
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Featured in Bloomberg Philanthropies Annual Impact Report for the financial year 2025-2026.
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Awarded the Democracy in action (DIC) Youth Voice and Democratic Eduaction Award at the annual Spark Gala 2026 hosted by Councillor Colleen James.
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Featured in national Ugandan media house newspaper talking about the journey of being an international student in Canada.
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Invited to speak at the annual United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) retreat in Barcelona. Representing the City of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
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Awarded Chegg Top 50 Global Student Prize out of 11,000+ nominations globally.
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Featured in Ugandan national newspaper – Daily Monitor in an article that speaks to the work of the Young Eye Initiative and how it is connecting young people across the world.
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Invited to speak at the 11th annual Bloomberg CityLab 2024 in Mexico City, representing the City of Kitchener, Kampala, Uganda and Young Eye Initiative.
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Recently invited by Co-operative and Experiential Education at University of Waterloo to share my journey on how co-op helped me become a founder of an organization.
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Invited by Rising Strong – Successful Newcomer Podcast to share my journey as an international student in Canada and how my experiences can be used to uplift and serve as a guide for other prospective international students.
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United Nations Association in Canada (UNAC) hosted the Building Young Entrepreneurs program with a focus on climate change. I led one of the two workshops.
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Waterloo Innovation Summit organized by the University of Waterloo in partnership with Mckinsey & Co. in downtown Toronto. Conversations with Next-Gen Talent.
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An initiative by the SDG Idea Factory in downtown Kitchener, Waterloo, Canada focused on talking about the specific SDGs and organizations work towards achieving them.
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Featured in Conrad School Black History Month Publication in 2024, celebrating the achievements and work over the past years.
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Invited to speak at the Inspiring Black Flourishing in Waterloo and Beyond lecture organized by the University of Waterloo.
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Invited to speak at the Black History Month event organized by the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region.
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Co-operative and experiential education blog. Here I talk about all my co-ops whilst at the University of Waterloo and what makes them all unique.
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Waterloo has a wealth of leaders, changemakers, and innovators who are imagining a bold new future. I was featured in the annual University of Waterloo publication, the theme for 2023 – Global Futures.
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What is your stand in the fight against racism? How do we fight racism? By looking at it as a social effort and one that should be collectively sought. Here are my thoughts on this as we strive for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all.
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An interview on Urban TV’s people and stories about my story starting the Young Eye Foundation and being named a Uganda top 40 under 40 in 2022.
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I was among the Vision Group winner of the Top 40 under 40 award, given to individuals who exhibit ingenuity, community impact, and the X factor. The winners are from across professional fields such as arts, technology, academia, and finance.
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I had the honour of being interviewed by renowned media personality, Crystal Newman on Groove Cafe on RX Radio Uganda.
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In 2021, the Young Eye Foundation organized a donation of resources to the Naguru Remand Home and organized a 4-month skill building program.
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My journey started in 2019, through my Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) component of the IBDP program saw me adopt a school in Bombo, Luwero, Uganda.
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