Youthmakers Hub at the AU-EU Youth Lab Kick-off Ceremony

On the 14th of November, the AU-EU Youth Lab programme held its Kick-off Ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Youthmakers Hub, as an implementing partner of the Programme’s Action Lot 1 – the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab, had the honor to attend and participate in the conversation. On this day, representatives from the implementing consortia of the programme introduced themselves and their roles. Stefanos Stagakis, our Communications Specialist for this Action, and Yenesew Alene Belew, Youth Advocacy Specialist, attended the event representing Youthmakers Hub.

Youth leaders, programme participants, and guests from Africa and Europe engaged in networking, workshops, and breakout sessions centered on youth empowerment and partnership. During the main event, high-level policymakers participated in discussions with young people, defining the key priorities of youth in the AU-EU youth partnership framework. Among them, H.E. Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships; H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, AUDA NEPAD CEO; H.E. Javier Niño Pérez, EU Ambassador to the African Union, highlighted the importance of youth in policy. The AU-EU Youth Lab began its work, and we all remain committed to supporting youth advocacy and making young people’s voices heard.