YORJA, The Promenade, 3rd Floor, Nairobi Garage, General Mathenge Road, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya, Nairobi (2026)

20/02/2026

After months of consultative work with young leaders, civil society partners, and technical stakeholders across Africa, we are excited to unveil A Youth-Friendly Version of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP)!

This resource translates the AUTJP into accessible language and practical guidance tailored for young people, CSOs, and grassroots actors - ensuring that youth across Africa can understand, engage with, and use the policy to shape inclusive transitional justice processes in their communities.

Why it matters:
➡️ Many young Africans live with the legacies of conflict and injustice, yet lack tools and pathways to engage policy processes meaningfully.
➡️ The Youth-Friendly AUTJP bridges that gap - making the continental policy more relatable, actionable, and empowering for today’s youth.

This achievement was made possible through a rigorous, participatory process involving consultations across regions, stakeholder engagements in multiple countries, and technical guidance from the African Union Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

A formal launch is just around the corner - happening in the next couple of days in Addis Ababa 🇪🇹. We are looking forward to sharing more details soon…

Access the resource at: https://yorja.org/youth-friendly-autjp/

Huge thanks our partner Impunity Watch who made this possible and the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for their support. 🤝

24/12/2025

🎥 Watch our 2025 Wrapped

As we come to the close of 2025, we take a moment to reflect on a year defined by learning, resilience, recognition and youth-led action for justice across the continent.

From advancing youth-friendly approaches to the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, to convening conversations through policy briefs, trainings, consultations, and regional engagements, this year reaffirmed one truth: young people are not just participants in transitional justice, they are shaping its future.

This short video captures highlights from our journey in 2025 — the partnerships built, the spaces created for youth voices, and the collective commitment to justice, accountability, healing, and peace in contexts affected by conflict.

To our partners, collaborators, mentors, and the many young people who walked this journey with us, thank you. Your trust, energy, and solidarity continue to drive this work forward.

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to deepening youth participation, strengthening regional engagement, and supporting justice processes that are inclusive, grounded, and transformative.

🎄 Seasons greetings from all of us at YORJA and best wishes for a peaceful and impactful year ahead.

22/12/2025

As the year draws to a close and amidst the euphoria of the AFCON⚽ that has just begun, YORJA is pleased to share a new brief that reflects on the quieter, often overlooked power of sport in post-conflict African societies.

The brief: "Healing Through Movement: The Role of Sports in Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Africa" invites us to reflect on sport not only as competition, but as a social language capable of supporting healing, reintegration, and coexistence in societies emerging from violence.

As the author Angella Alakit observes, sport freezes time long enough for people to remember their shared humanity. Across contexts from Rwanda and Northern Uganda to South Africa, this research illustrates how movement, play, and collective joy can open spaces for dialogue, belonging, and repair where politics and formal processes often fall short.

🔗 Read the brief here: www.yorja.org/publications/

15/12/2025

We recently concluded the Peace Acorns Training Programme (2025 Cohort), and we are proud to share reflections from participants who journeyed with us through this transformative experience.

The Peace Acorns Program is designed to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to engage meaningfully in peace-building, justice, and community-led change. Throughout this cohort, participants explored critical themes, strengthened their leadership capacities, and built lasting connections across diverse contexts.

In this short testimonial, members of the Cohort share their experiences, lessons learned, and how the programme has shaped their perspectives and aspirations going forward.

As we celebrate the completion of this cohort, we remain committed to nurturing youth leadership and supporting young peace-builders across the continent.

Thank you to our facilitators, partners, and the incredible Peace Acorns community for making this journey impactful.

10/12/2025

Today marks the final day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2025. This year’s theme “UNITE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls” has underscored a critical truth: gender-based violence is no longer confined to physical spaces.

It continues to evolve, taking new forms in digital environments, including those shaped by conflict and displacement. Harmful masculinities and patriarchal norms frequently spill into online spaces, where harassment, intimidation, and abuse silence survivors and reinforce cycles of injustice. What happens online shapes what happens offline.

As we close this global campaign, we reiterate the commitments that moved us over the past 16 days:
• Expose digital forms of GBV that disproportionately target women and girls.
• Challenge harmful masculinities that normalise violence in both virtual and physical spaces.
• Promote survivor-centred approaches that uphold dignity, safety, and privacy in digital contexts.
• Engage men and boys as allies in redefining masculinities through care, accountability, and justice.

As the 16 days come to an end, the work continues. Let us keep uniting, clicking, sharing, educating, and advocating for a world free from violence.

17/11/2025

Today, we wrap up the peer review process for the development of a youth-friendly African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) with an engagement of youth-stakeholders in South Africa🇿🇦. This marks a major milestone after months of rigorous engagements with young people from across the continent.

Every meeting has reaffirmed a simple truth: Africa’s youth are not just stakeholders in transitional justice, they are essential partners, knowledge-holders, and vision-shapers. Their insights, critiques, and lived experiences have continually sharpened this resource and ensured that it truly reflects youth realities, aspirations, and demands for justice.

From East to West, North to South, young people have engaged with honesty, courage, and clarity; pushing us to think deeper about accessibility, relevance, and meaningful participation in transitional justice processes.

A heartfelt thank you to all the youth participants, facilitators, our partners Impunity Watch, and colleagues whose commitment has guided this process. Your voices are shaping a continental resource that will serve millions.

As we move towards finalisation, one thing is certain: this is more than a policy tool, it is a testament to youth-led transformation in Africa’s justice landscape.
Onward to the next phase!

14/11/2025

Today, we convened young stakeholders in Rabat, Morocco for the peer-review of the Youth-Friendly African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP). It turned out to be an energising and thoughtful exchange that reaffirmed a simple truth: every voice matters, and when young people are given the space to lead, they lead with clarity, vision, and purpose.

The insights shared throughout the sessions highlighted the depth of experience, innovation, and commitment that African youth bring to transitional justice processes. The remarkable agency demonstrated during the dialogue further underscored this point; showing once again that young people are not just participants in these conversations; they are co-architects of a more just and inclusive future.

Grateful to everyone who contributed so generously to today’s review, and to our partners at Impunity Watch for their steadfast support in grounding this work. Together, we continue to strengthen the foundations of a youth-driven AUTJP that reflects the realities, aspirations, and leadership of young people across the continent.

30/10/2025

Today in Banjul, The Gambia, we hosted an inspiring peer review session for the draft Youth-Friendly Version of the AUTJP; bringing together a diverse group of young people from across the continent to engage, assess, and refine this important resource.

The discussions were rich and deeply reflective. The insights and recommendations shared not only validate the hard work invested in this process but also reaffirm the value of youth perspectives in shaping transitional justice discourse in Africa.

Each engagement reminds us that young people’s lived experiences continue to enrich and guide this evolving resource, ensuring it remains relevant, accessible, and truly youth-centered.

A big thank you to all participants and partners Impunity Watch who made today’s session possible. The journey towards a youth-friendly AUTJP continues, inclusive, collaborative, and full of promise. 💡

03/10/2025

✨ Today marks a key milestone in our journey!

We officially began the peer-review process for the Youth-Friendly Version of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy (AUTJP) in Kinshasa, DRC.

Participants had the opportunity to critically engage with the draft resource, interrogate its content, and provide meaningful inputs to strengthen its relevance for young people across the continent.

We are deeply grateful to all our participants for their commitment, and to our partners from Impunity Watch (David Taylor & Christella Niyonzima) for joining us in this important conversation.

This is just the beginning of a series of engagements across Africa aimed at validating and refining this draft resource, ensuring that it reflects the voices, priorities, and aspirations of Africa’s youth.

15/09/2025

🌿✨ Celebrating the 2025 Peace Acorns! ✨🌿

After months of training, reflection, and assessment, we are proud to announce the graduation of the 2025 Peace Acorns! 🎓

This milestone marks not just the completion of a journey, but the beginning of new ones. To all graduands, congratulations on your commitment to peacebuilding and transitional justice. 👏

We warmly invite you to join us as we celebrate this milestone of commitment to peacebuilding and transitional justice. 🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84730787902?pwd=mohKRKn9V7KwL8UidatyIwb1wXDNQu.1

A special commendation goes to those moving forward into the mentorship phase of the project, may this next step deepen your leadership and impact.

21/08/2025

We are excited to share a special videobook introducing the 2025 cohort of Peace Acorns trainees!🌱

This year’s program brought together passionate young leaders committed to peacebuilding, justice, and leadership across Africa. The Peace Acorns initiative continues to nurture a new generation of leaders equipped to transform conflict, promote reconciliation, and champion inclusive societies.

YORJA

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