This milestone carries special meaning. Monde village is where the idea of Youthmakers Hub was first born — back in 2016, when our co-founders visited Uganda for the first time. Two years later, in January 2018, we returned to Monde to implement WE AfriHug in collaboration with Love & Hope Monde: a 3-day 21st Century Life Skills Camp that empowered local youth through non-formal education, with training on teamwork, communication, and social issues. Eight years on, we came back to the same village, with the same partner, on a bigger stage.

From 23 to 26 February 2026, Youthmakers Hub teamed up once again with Love & Hope Monde to organize a 4-day training bootcamp in Monde village, Uganda — this time as part of the AU–EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective programme.

The training, “Lead the Narrative: Communication for Youth Advocacy,” brought together 60 youth leaders from across Uganda, guided by a diverse team of 8 international and local trainers, including Youthmakers Hub experts and external collaborators.

From day one, the bootcamp was built around connection and trust. Participants kicked off with non-formal team-building activities that set the tone for openness and collaboration, before diving into interactive sessions on four core areas: communication for advocacy, networking and partnerships, social media for impact, and public speaking and pitching.

One of the most memorable moments was the “blindfold activity” — a practical exercise that showed participants just how many obstacles can get in the way of clear communication and challenged them to stay effective under pressure. Trainer Stefanos Stagakis reflected: “Communication is not only about speaking — it is about ensuring understanding.”

Through role-playing, group discussions, and guided reflections, participants explored how to build meaningful partnerships and communicate their message in digital spaces. Every afternoon, teams came together to work on real advocacy initiatives — tackling challenges like climate change, education, disability inclusion, and access to clean water. They answered key questions: What change do you want to create? How will you communicate it? What makes your message stand out? This co-creation process led to pitching sessions where participants stepped out of their comfort zones to present their ideas.

The setting played a big role too. Hosting the training in Monde village, away from the city, created a focused space where participants felt comfortable sharing, questioning, and engaging deeply — what many described as “learning that is felt, not just taught.”

Participants also got to test the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab App, a free mobile tool designed by YMH for learning, funding, and networking opportunities. Their feedback contributes to the app’s co-creation journey with 10,000 young people.

The impact showed in participants’ own commitments. Franco pledged to train fellow youth in advocacy within his district. Aspasia shared her goal of overcoming anxiety and expressing herself more confidently. Atuheire committed to becoming a voice of hope and representation for young people in her community. Sekandi and Alvin reframed music and sports as tools for advocacy and community development.

The final day brought group reflections, a closing ceremony with certificate distribution, and a group photo — marking not just the end of the bootcamp, but the beginning of a new chapter for each participant as an active changemaker.