AAYC Webinar on Active Citizenship and Peacebuilding
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East African youth are living at the crossroads of decades-long challenges and opportunities for development and peace. With their countries facing political instability, shrinking civic space, youth unemployment, resource-induced conflicts, and the burden of heavy national debt, the need for meaningful youth-led action has never been more urgent.
The All Africa Youth Congress (AAYC) 2025, under the continuing campaign “Africa: My Home. My Future.”, builds on the movement launched in Accra, Ghana in 2022 which seeks to ignite African patriotism, civic responsibility, and youth-led transformation. Two of the core pillars, Active Citizenship and Peace & Security, emphasize the urgent role of young people in shaping governance and peace processes across the continent.
Encouragingly, youth across the region, for instance, Generation Z in the host country Kenya are increasingly emerging as key agents of transformation by stepping into civic spaces, mobilizing through digital platforms, and leading peace and accountability campaigns. This growing influence signals a positive shift toward more engaged, justice-oriented youth leadership across East Africa.
As part of this broader agenda, this half day Regional Youth Exchange Forum will bring together 100 youth delegates from East Africa attending AAYC 2025 to highlight regional realities, amplify shared learning, and contribute to continental outcomes from an East African perspective.
Rationale
AAYC 2025 provides a Pan-African platform for youth engagement, and this regional side event creates the space for focused, context-specific dialogue. Despite ongoing challenges, East African youth continue to demonstrate leadership in peacebuilding and youth-led movements, often using creative approaches to influence change. The exchange forum will offer an opportunity to explore shared regional struggles and success stories, strengthen youth networks across East Africa, and shape joint contributions to the AAYC 2025 declaration and its follow-up processes.
Main Objective
To create a regional platform for East African youth to exchange experiences, build networks, and propose collaborative actions on active citizenship and peacebuilding as part of AAYC 2025.
Specific Objectives
To facilitate peer-to-peer exchange on civic engagement and peacebuilding experiences across East African countries.
To identify region-specific challenges and opportunities for youth in governance, justice, and peace.
To develop a two-year action plan for promoting active Citizenship and peacebuilding in Eastern Africa.
Zoom Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88117091807?pwd=4ouvnFVKIhPwnIEuBbeQCURAxtgUzp.1
Meeting ID: 881 1709 1807
Passcode: 691682