Youth Projects Development Platform - YPDP

09/04/2026

We are proud to see young people taking part in important conversations that shape our communities. 🙌✨

At the provincial stakeholders' consultative meeting on the amended GBV Act, Community Youth Leader Faith Nasilele , represented young people’s voices of Luapula through the Margins to Leadership Project in Luapula Province. 🇿🇲

It was encouraging to see the progressive steps being taken particularly around strengthening victim protection, introducing fast-track courts ⚖️, establishing one-stop centers 🏥, and enhancing accountability among service providers. These reforms are critical in ensuring timely and effective support for survivors.

However, one key reflection stood out: the gap between policy and community awareness. ⚠️

While stakeholders are engaged and informed, many individuals at the grassroots level still lack knowledge about their rights and the services available to them. This highlights the urgent need for:

🔹 Increased community sensitization and awareness
🔹 Capacity building for frontline responders
🔹 Effective use of GBV response facilities and equipment

The meeting also reinforced the importance of youth participation in decision-making spaces. 🗣️ Platforms like these ensure that young people are not only beneficiaries but active contributors to shaping solutions in our communities.

As we move forward, our focus must remain on translating policy into real impact—ensuring that every individual understands their rights and can access the support they deserve. 🌍💡

European Union in Zambia

08/04/2026

caught up with a surprise 💯😳 Thanks � ZYDF

03/04/2026

We recently paid a courtesy call to the Mayor of Mansa, Njikho Musuku, as part of our the Margins to Leadership Project with the media team from the AU-EU Youth Lab and a team from a Chance for Change foundation.

It was a very insightful and encouraging meeting. We had the opportunity to share the work we are doing as YPDP Zambia while also learning about the council’s efforts in supporting youth development, especially through opportunities under the Constituency Development Fund, skills training, and capacity-building initiatives.

One key takeaway stood out:
👉 Many young people are not fully utilizing these opportunities simply because they are not engaging with local offices.

We encourage all young people in Mansa and across Zambia to visit your mayor’s office and local council. There are real opportunities available that can help you grow and succeed.

We are grateful for the warm reception and openness from the Mayor, who reaffirmed his commitment to supporting young people and welcomed continued engagement. 🤝.

02/04/2026

We recently hosted the media team from the AU-EU Youth Lab 📸 as part of ongoing efforts to document progress under The Margins to Leadership Project.

The visit included field engagements in Mansa District, where we engaged with communities and local leadership 🤝, including a visit to Chinfula Village. Here, one of our beneficiaries, Francis, is actively promoting civic participation and raising awareness on how communities can engage with Ward Development Committees and access the Constituency Development Fund.

A stakeholder engagement involving Mansa District commissioner, the deputy mayor, several traditional headmen, school headteachers, FML community youth leaders, and community actors highlighted key barriers affecting youth participation in development opportunities:

🔹 Limited capacity in proposal writing and business planning

🔹 Low awareness of available opportunities and access pathways

🔹 Rising cases of school dropouts and youth disengagement

🔹 Limited access to productive resources such as land and agricultural inputs 🌱

🔹 Capacity gaps preventing communities from fully utilizing CDF

Feedback from the Ward Development Committee in Myulu Ward further indicated that while one cooperative has successfully accessed CDF support for piggery production 🐖, several others require technical support to navigate the application process.

These insights reinforce a critical development gap:

⚠️ Access to funding must be matched with capacity, information, and localized support systems.

Through collaboration with partners such as the Chance for Change Foundation, we are working to address these gaps by strengthening skills in entrepreneurship, agriculture value chains, and project development 📚.
our commitment remains focused on strengthening decentralized development, improving access to public resources, and empowering youth and women to actively shape their futures 🌍.

01/04/2026

It was honestly one of those spaces that leaves you thinking long after the sessions are over. We were proud to be part of Lusaka Climate Finance Week 2026, a powerful gathering of leaders, experts, and changemakers working to unlock climate solutions for Zambia and beyond 🌍

✅ 30+ sessions
✅ 50+ facilitators and speakers
✅ 200+ participants
✅ 10+ countries represented

Representing YPDP Zambia, Miyoba B Moonze joined a diverse group of voices from across sectors and countries, all exploring how climate finance can move from big conversations to real impact where it matters most.

We noted that there is growing momentum around making climate finance more practical and accessible, especially for grassroots initiatives. There’s also increasing recognition that tools like green investments and carbon markets can only work if they are transparent, inclusive, and designed with communities in mind.

For us as an organisation, this goes beyond policy discussions. because, this connects to the work we do with young people and women in rural communities across Muchinga and Northern Luapula and southern provinces of Zambia, supporting youth and young women to build sustainable livelihoods, adopt climate-smart practices, and develop solutions that can actually attract funding and scale. The insights from this experience strengthen our approach and push us to think bigger about what’s possible.

Because at the end of the day, climate action is not just about global frameworks; it's about whether a young farmer, a woman entrepreneur, or a rural community can access the opportunities needed to adapt and thrive.

📣 If you’re working in this space or interested in collaborating, we’re always open to connecting and building meaningful partnerships.

24/03/2026

24/03/2026

We had an incredible experience at the Liberty Conference held at Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka a powerful gathering of visionaries, innovators, and change makers passionate about growth, excellence, and building stronger communities.

Our organization was proudly represented by Jonathan Chilembo, who took part in a thought-provoking discussion on how young people, especially Gen Z, are driving change today.

One key takeaway? While many young people are using social media to advocate and raise awareness, real and lasting change also requires action on the ground. It’s not just about speaking out it’s about stepping into communities, building solutions, and working with others to make a difference.

We also challenged the idea of advocacy itself encouraging young people to go beyond pointing out problems and instead bring solutions, collaborate, and become partners in change.

The future is bright when young people move from just being voices online to becoming leaders and builders in their communities.

💡 Let’s continue turning ideas into action.

21/03/2026

🚀 Call for Volunteers – Join Youth Projects Development Platform Zambia

The Youth Projects Development Platform (YPDP) Zambia is looking for passionate and driven volunteers to support our Programs and Communications teams. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build your skills, and be part of impactful youth-led initiatives that are shaping communities in Zambia.

This volunteer opportunity is unpaid, and we are looking for creative, self-motivated individuals who are open to learning and committed to contributing to the development of Zambia and Africa. Applicants with little or no work experience are encouraged to apply.

📌 How to Apply:
Please ensure your CV is uploaded using an accessible link (such as Google Drive or Dropbox). Copy the link and paste it in the section where it says “Upload your CV.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

🗓 Deadline: 20 April 2026

Apply here:
https://ypdpzambia.org/volunteer-opportunities

20/03/2026

We were honored to join a powerful meet-and-greet hosted by Zambia Youth Delivery Forum - ZYDF , bringing together youth-led NGOs from across the country to connect, collaborate, and align our voices. What stood out was our openness to sharing skills and strengths, where we positioned ourselves to support fellow organizations in strengthening their systems through capacity building. Even more inspiring was how, within just 10 minutes, six organizations co-created a bold and practical project idea focused on raising awareness of the roles of elected leaders tackling misinformation, reducing unrealistic expectations, and promoting accountability in leadership.

We are collaborative, fast, focused, and solution-driven. We are excited to keep building strong partnerships, supporting youth-led organizations, and turning ideas like this into real impact for Zambia. To partners, donors, and fellow changemakers, this is your invitation to collaborate with us. And to our peers join us as we shape the future together.

12/03/2026

Executive Director’s Message
As Zambia commemorates Youth Day 2026 under the theme “Arise and Soar,” we are reminded that young people have the power to rise and lead change in their communities, especially in advancing rural development and sustainable livelihoods. Guided by our vision of empowered young people actively participating in governance, development, and community transformation. We invite you to join us. Tap the energy and leadership of youth today. Together, we shall transform communities and livelihoods by 2031.

11/03/2026

Congratulations to every one of you that participated.
On 6th March 2026, we successfully hosted a Debate Tournament at Milemu Secondary School in Ndola District, Copperbelt Province, under the theme “Democracy in Action: Every Voice Matters.” in partnership with Voice of the Future Organization, bringing together bright young minds from several secondary schools across the district.

The tournament created a platform for pupils to discuss important democratic issues, develop public speaking skills, and strengthen their confidence in expressing ideas. It was inspiring to watch the students engage passionately with topics that directly affect their future and their communities.

The pupils debated on;
• Social media does more good than harm to democracy.
• Voting should be mandatory for all citizens.
• Freedom of speech is the most important pillar of democracy.
• Young people should have a bigger role in decision-making in their communities.

Students from Lubuto Secondary School, Milemu Secondary School, Kansenshi Secondary School, Kansenshi Day Secondary School, Dambo Day Secondary School, Fatima Girls Secondary School, and Chifubu Secondary School participated in several rounds of debate. Throughout the competition, pupils demonstrated strong research, teamwork, and communication skills.

After careful evaluation by the judges, Kansenshi Secondary School emerged as the winner, while Chifubu Secondary School finished as the runner-up.

it was impressive to see how knowledgeable and confident the pupils were during the debates. Many students showed strong awareness of current issues, particularly those related to social media and democratic participation. we were amazed by how young people today are increasingly exposed to information through both education and digital platforms, which helps them better understand issues affecting society.

08/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day. Thank you for your strength, kindness, and endless inspiration.