From June 18th to 24th, the UGM Party Youth League participated in Adisi Ya Afrika (AYA), a gathering of young political leaders from Kenya, Rwanda, and Madagascar. The event took place in Ukunda, Kwale with UGM represented by Lilian Lingai, Binuamin Salat, Hon. Sydney Ogada, and Party Co-Chair Hon. Sialo Tasur.
AYA brings together youth leagues from Green parties across Africa to connect, plan, and share practical ideas for pushing youth voices into political spaces. This year’s sessions were hosted with support from Green Forum Sweden.
Across the week, delegates spent time thinking through what kind of platform AYA should become. They looked at what’s working, what’s missing, and how to grow youth influence in real political processes. Together, they developed a working vision:
“Africa is a sustainably developing continent with youth leadership, advancing ecology, human rights, social justice, gender equality and social inclusion.”
They also mapped out focus areas for AYA including green entrepreneurship, civic education, and political literacy. The mission statement shaped up as:
“A youth-driven platform for youth empowerment, grassroots democracy, peaceful coexistence, inclusion, social justice and the rule of law.”
Participants listed key groups AYA needs to engage including government bodies, civil society, media, international partners, educators, and community-based organisations. They also named the young people who need access to training, mentorship, and political space.
Environmental work stood out as a shared priority, from campaigns and education to policy input. There was also clear interest in practical collaborations with ministries, NGOs, and grassroots groups already doing the work.
The UGM team invited AYA delegates to the launch of UGM’s Kwale County office, giving everyone a firsthand look at local organising. The week ended with a visit to the Kaya Sacred Forest an experience that showcased the richness of the Kenyan culture and history.
AYA is growing into a working platform. For UGM, the week in Ukunda showed that youth leagues can and should lead, plan, and build across borders. Now. Not later.