Align Africas

16/08/2026

🧵 International Youth Day 2026 | August 12

We joined young people and partners in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia to celebrate under the theme:

“Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

🌍 Youth from diverse communities share one vision: dignity, opportunity, inclusion, and peace.

The event brought together government institutions, civil society, development partners, and youth-led organizations including BG Women & Social Affairs Bureau, Plan International, Ethiopian Red Cross Society, and alignAfrica.

💬 Key discussions focused on strengthening dialogue, critical thinking, and media literacy—while addressing misinformation and hate speech, and promoting inclusive youth participation in civic life.

At alignAfrica, we believe solutions for young people must be shaped with them, not for them.

We remain committed to supporting youth in building skills, accessing livelihoods, strengthening leadership, and engaging in digital and decision-making spaces.

✨ This IYD, we celebrate the creativity, resilience, and leadership of young people across Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia.

Different contexts. Common aspirations. Shared responsibility.

Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are shaping change today.

📍 Assosa, Ethiopia
📅 August 12, 2026

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Creating lasting change begins with empowering young people to lead it.

On 6–7 July 2026, alignAfrica launched the Structured (CoC) Training under the Future4Binti Programme in Ayirolaf Kebele (Dubti Woreda) and Korodora Kebele (Asayita Woreda), Afar Region. The programme is designed to empower girls and young women, engage boys as allies, and prevent harmful practices through community-led action and gender-transformative learning.

A total of 140 adolescents and young people (including 70 girls) registered for the training. Demonstrating our commitment to inclusive participation, 4 persons with disabilities (2 girls) also took part. During the first training sessions, 114 participants, including 59 girls, actively engaged in interactive learning activities.

Through participatory and learner-centred approaches, participants strengthened essential life skills, confidence, empathy, and positive communication.

:
• Assertive Communication
• Learning to Listen and Put Yourself in Another’s Shoes

:
• Self-Portrait: Nurturing Self-Esteem
• The Mouse, the Lion, and the Elephant

These sessions created safe spaces where girls and boys reflected on their experiences, built confidence, challenged harmful gender norms, and developed the leadership skills needed to become , young leaders who inspire equality, protect the rights of girls, and help build safer, more inclusive, and resilient communities.

At alignAfrica, we believe that sustainable transformation starts with empowered young people and communities. Together with our partners, we are investing in local leadership to advance gender equality, end female ge***al mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM), and ensure every girl has the opportunity to thrive.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia Amref Health Africa and Plan International Ethiopia for their invaluable partnership and commitment to advancing the Future4Binti Programme. Together, we are empowering communities, protecting girls’ rights, and creating lasting positive change in Afar.