During 19-21 November, our Co-Founder & CEO Konstantinos Maragkos travelled to Luanda, Angola, to represent the Africa Europe Foundation at two key gatherings that brought together civil society organisations, youth representatives, and international partners to shape the future of Africa–Europe collaboration.

Collective Voices in Action – 19 November
Organised by the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab programme, of which we’re implementing partners, Oxfam, and CONCORD, this event created a space for dialogue and partnership-building. Through interactive roundtable sessions, participants explored new synergies and opportunities.

AU–EU Civil Society and Youth Forum – 20–21 November

Hosted by the African Union and the European Union, with contributions from partners such as OECD, UNDP, and UNICEF. Alongside the African Union–European Union Summit in Luanda taking place on 24–25 November 2025, the Civil Society and Youth Forum offered a unique platform for CSOs and youth representatives to shape the dialogue on the AU–EU partnership. Celebrating 25 years of collaboration between the two organisations, the summit is highlighting the invaluable opportunities it has fostered to deepen economic, cultural, and political ties across both continents.

Panel discussions and breakout sessions enabled participants to co-create recommendations and share perspectives on pressing issues affecting both continents.

During these sessions, Konstantinos Maragkos proudly contributed to discussions, raising questions and offering recommendations. Among his inputs, he emphasised the need for stronger cooperation and alignment between the EU, EU Delegations, and Member State Embassies to facilitate youth mobility and address visa-related bureaucratic barriers. Tackling these challenges is essential to unlock the full potential of exchange programmes between Africa and Europe, ensuring that mobility and collaboration are accessible to all.

During the closing remarks, Erica Gerretsen, Director of Human Development, Migration Governance & Peace at Directorate-General for DG INTPA of the European Commission, mentioned AU-EU Youth Lab, which we’re part of, as a paradigm of programmes benefiting young people in Africa and Europe. We are proud of this recognition of a very impactful and youth-focused programme during this high-level forum.

Youthmakers Hub is grateful for this journey of listening, learning, and co-creation.

This experience would not have been possible without the support of the Africa Europe Foundation, whose commitment to fostering collaboration continues to empower voices across continents.

Shaping a future together with CSOs and youth representatives is at the heart of our mission. These days in Angola reflected that commitment and helped us move further in this direction.