Spring 2021

Requiring #FairEqualJustice Communities 

The world must come together to create a society that eliminates inequities in policies and programs, removing barriers and creating open and inclusive processes that give dignity and respect to all human beings. We must design programs that are intersectional and supportive of those facing any form of discrimination, including gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, race or ethnicity, religion, and national origin. Building an inclusive, fair, just, and equal world will require hard work. We believe that not only can it be achieved, but youth can help lead the way. Over the next five weeks, join us in campaigning for #FairEqualJust communities. 

What's New on YouthLead?

On the Ground with Thomas Tamba Bundoo

Learn about Digital Activism 

As the use of social media and online communications continues to rise, knowing how to effectively navigate digital platforms has become crucial. Check out this training session on digital activism and campaigning. Learn how to use digital platforms like Instagram and Zoom for online campaigns to reach youth globally and maximize young voices in the digital realm.    
Led by YP2LE Youth Advisory Group Member Nandini Tanya Lallmon, this webinar explores: 

• the design process of digital activism through the lens of successful campaigns,  
• how to leverage digital campaigns to promote your work, and  
• steps in delivering an advocacy campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Participants will also learn how to incorporate Positive Youth Development (PYD) into their messaging and proven techniques for using digital spaces for activism. Lallmon will also share her strategies for overcoming the digital divide while ensuring inclusive campaigning. Watch the webinar.

Connect with Us on Social Media

For the latest on members of YouthLead and changemakers like YouthLead Ambassadors Zacheaus Kafeero and Gunel Huseynova, connect with us on Instagram at @youthleadglobal. Discover how these young leaders are transforming their communities for the better! 

Participate in a Community of Practice!

YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation's Communities of Practice (CoPs) are spaces where youth and youth-serving practitioners can come together to share ideas, tools, and build and test practical resources to advance PYD through collaboration, dialogue, and collective learning. These communities are free and open to all interested youth and youth-serving practitioners. Check out our upcoming events and webinars. Join one (or more!) of the six active CoPs today:

• Business, Entrepreneurship, and Private-sector Engagement CoP: focused on building skills in entrepreneurship and on collaboration with the private sector. Open to all sectors, the CoP will have an emphasis on agriculture initially, adding other sectors such as health, education, or transport based on member interest and feedback. 
• Youth Engagement CoP: focused on meaningful youth engagement in all aspects of programming. 
• Gender CoP: focused on integrated youth-centered and gender transformative programming through PYD. 
• Higher Education Engagement and Transformation CoP: focuses on engaging the international higher education community to advance higher education and youth learning priorities and strengthening the link between PYD and higher education programming through a systems-based approach. 
• Youth Systems Strengthening CoP: focuses on providing an open learning and sharing space that allows participants to understand more about the purposes, processes and outcomes associated with reforming systems that impact youth outcomes sustainably and at scale. 
• Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Youth CoP on YouthPower.org (English and Arabic): A COP for youth and youth-serving stakeholders supporting PYD in the MENA region. 

Insights from Uganda

COVID-19 is a global health crisis, impacting every community and industry around the world. For young people in search of education and economic opportunities, the pandemic has been the ultimate disruptor, posing an array of both familiar and unique challenges. However, the pandemic has also prompted adaptation and innovation, particularly from youth. The discussion, led by Hilda Namakula, a YP2LE Youth Research Advisor and member of the YP2LE Youth Advisory Group (YAG), includes Danstan Micheal Wasobhoka, an engineer and entrepreneur with Microsoft, and Andrew Kiragga, an entrepreneur and software engineer. Get insight on how they adapted to the impacts of the pandemic and the unexpected opportunities and lessons gained. Watch the webinar.