AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective

Empowering Youth Across Africa and Europe

23 October 2024

On 14th October 2024, the AU-EU Youth Lab programme officially launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking a pivotal milestone in empowering African youth and fostering their active participation in decision-making processes. The Kick-off ceremony gathered key partners from the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab and AU-EU Youth Action Lab, alongside members of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), the EU-Ethiopia Youth Sounding Board, and youth representatives from across Africa. High-level dialogues with decision-makers, including H.E. Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, and H.E. Javier Niño Pérez, EU Ambassador to the African Union, showcased the Lab’s transformative potential for youth engagement on the continent. The complete video of the ceremony is accessible online, offering valuable insights and reflections from the event, including diverse perspectives from youth leaders.

Key Project Milestones Achieved

In September 2024, the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective completed its inception phase and initiated activities. One of the first major steps was inviting young people to apply for the Youth Advisory Board (YAB), whose members will assess the project’s impact on local communities and advise on future actions. Restless Development leads this activity and coordinates the YAB Members, while ComDev Africa launched the youth volunteer recruitment through the agi_re citizen engagement program.

About the Project

The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective is a four-year initiative, co-funded by the European Union as part of the AU-EU Youth Lab programme. It aims to amplify the voices of young people, promote their participation in decision-making, and equip youth leaders with the tools needed to influence policy and drive positive community change while enhancing cross-continental cooperation between Africa and Europe.

Exciting opportunities are upcoming, including on-site workshops, training events, hackathons, and grants of up to €10,000 for youth-led initiatives. Moreover, Youthmakers Hub is developing the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab App, which will launch soon, creating a digital platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and networking across Africa and Europe.

To learn more, visit our website: aueuyouthvoiceslab.eu.

Contacts

Virgile Uzabumugabo (Oxfam International – Oxfam in Africa) | Project Consortium Manager

VUzabumugabo@oxfam.org.uk

Silvia Diazzi (Youthmakers Hub) | Communication & Dissemination Manager

silvia.diazzi@youthmakershub.com