The dialogue on ‘The Voice and Value of Democracy in Africa’ was held at Riara University in Nairobi on November 19, 2024. The event, co-organized by The Youth Café in collaboration with Riara University, brought together diverse stakeholders, including students, government leaders, representatives from civic society organizations, digital innovators, scholars, experts and activists. The event was both physical and streamed live for virtual participants. The total number of participants was 78. Notably, 59% of the participants were aged 20-30 years while 58% were female, highlighting the emphasis on women and youth inclusivity in the dialogue.
The Youth Café Empowers Youth Through Participatory Budgeting To Enhance Accountability And Transparency
The Youth Café (TYC) is a trailblazer in youth empowerment in Kenya, utilizing Participatory Budgeting (PB) to drive accountability, transparency, and good governance. Through its innovative PB approach, TYC has successfully mobilized over 76,000 young people across 12 counties, empowering them to take part in crucial budgetary decisions. With a staggering $3 million USD allocated through this process, TYC has set a new standard for how public resources can be managed effectively and ethically when young people are at the helm. This initiative not only empowers youth to influence public resource allocation but also transforms them into vigilant custodians of government accountability, ensuring public funds are directed toward community-driven solutions.
How Does The Youth Café Embody Purposeful, Ethical, And Value-Based Leadership In Africa?
The basis for the prioritization of youth development is rooted in Our Strategic Plan, which looks at today's youth bulge as an opportunity for development and economic growth. The prioritization of youth development has made The Youth Café the leading organization in realizing sizable, lasting, and positive changes in the lives of young people in Africa. Youthful audacity to dream big and execute those dreams is essential in tackling Africa's daunting challenges today. Fostered by grassroots knowledge, The Youth Café commits to reducing youth deprivation and socio-economic empowerment resulting in transformative change.
Policy Interventions And Measures Ahead Of The 2022 General Elections.
The Youth Café, in its mandate to safeguard the public's interest, is investing in different policy interventions that have a direct bearing on the citizens, and accountability of the Kenyan Government. The 2022 elections are viewed as a moment to raise the integrity bar and root corrupt leaders out of office. During the past few years, corruption has increased significantly in the country. The whole idea of corruption has been ethnicized and politicized, allowing leaders and Kenyan citizens today to disregard the question of accountability, and as a result, we have performed poorly in the fight against corruption.
Strengthening Rural Women’s Contribution To Sustainable Food Systems Through The African Continental Free Trade Area | International Day of Rural Women
The Youth Café and Africa Union Commission commemorated the International Rural Women Day under the theme Strengthening rural women’s contribution to sustainable food systems through the African Continental Free Trade Area. The purpose was to target different stakeholders that are involved in supporting the empowerment of rural women such as Member States, Regional Economic Communities, Academics, Financial Institutions, Development Partners, Women Right Champions, UN Agencies and Civil Society Organizations.
COVID Recovery | Scoping an Intervention in Youth Mental Health Support in Kenya
The Youth Cafe in collaboration with the University of Sussex (UK) through Sussex Writes, have won the 2021 Global Challenges Fund for a project that is working to formulate a contextually-appropriate psychosocial intervention model, aiming to improve youth mental health, promote social inclusion and strengthen post-pandemic resilience in Kenya. With mental health disorders left untreated, these conditions have serious detrimental effects on young people’s developmental progress, family life and educational achievement, with long-term risks for poor health, social marginalisation and unemployment in adulthood. COVID-19 has increased threats to mental ill health and worsened pre-existing global inequalities in access to adequate care. Addressing these challenges is essential to achieving post-COVID recovery, given the close links between youth mental health, social disability and economic development.