Cynthia Chigwenya
@cy_chigwenya
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Contagiously optimistic about #Africa | An avid reader and traveller | Politically affiliated
ZA + ZW
Joined January 2015
What a commendable way of starting a maiden presidency of the #UNSC!!!. Thanks to #Switzerland for their commitment to inclusion in practice. Yesterday, I represented #YouthforPeaceAfrica & briefed the 9315th Meeting of the Council. Thanks to @AUC_PAPS @swiss_un @SwissAddisAbaba
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The Africa Security Dialogue, held in #Somaliland ended with a visit to the office of the President. Thanks to #somalilanders [the people of Somaliland] @Presidencysl_ @musebiihi @somalilandmfa for a memorable experience & the many lessons we now carry with.
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Spending this weekend in #Somaliland for @BrenthurstF ’s Africa Security Dialogue, in partnership with @KAS_PolDiSSA I met remarkable practitioners & academics in politics, peace and security. #africa #somaliland
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“Towards a Common Future,” for this region & for our continent. #SADC 🇿🇦🇿🇼🇲🇼🇲🇿🇹🇿🇲🇺🇦🇴🇨🇩🇸🇿🇳🇦🇧🇼🇿🇲🇱🇸🇲🇬 🫶🏾
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Some photos from the 2️⃣-day Experience Sharing Workshop on the Development of National Action Plans (NAPs) on Youth, Peace & Security, which was held at the #AU HQ in Ethiopia this week. 🇪🇹|🇪🇹. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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This generation of young #African women gives me goosebumps!!! Super-excited for the incoming co-chair of the @WHO Commission on Social Connection. @ChidoCleoMpemba unotipa samanyemwe. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾. @WHOAfrica @ZimAddisAbaba @MoFA_ZW @SADC_News
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Leaders Today! But if you are convinced that #Youth are leaders of tomorrow then you must take affirmative action and be intentional about enhancing our capabilities so that we’re able to secure our continent’s future. #youthinclusion #YouthforPeaceAfrica #aprmpsc @AUYouthProgram
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“Everything that Africa needs, God gave” - Dr. Assis Malaquias. Bonjour de Bujumbura! 🇧🇮❤️.#HappySunday
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A programme coordinator @KAS_africa . One of my favourite projects in the first quarter of the year is onboarding the new cohort of KAS-SAIIA scholars. So much hope & enthusiasm, also a full-circle moment for me as an alumna.
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Super-excited to be a part of the @AfricaACSS Emerging Security Sector Leaders (ESSL) cohort for this year. We kick off this week with sessions on #YPS and #WPS. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Give her a sense of identity. It matters. Be deliberate about it…. Teach her to reject likeability. Her job is to be her full self… let her grow up to be, among other things, a proud African woman. -rephrased from Chimamanda Ngozi’s works. #happyafricaday
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Here to serve!!! . I enjoyed engaging #SADCYouth on the #AFCFTA and the prospects it holds for our region; there was so much to learn from the panelists. The programme continues today, join the #5thSADCYouthForum online via
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Thanks to @Newzroom405 & @hugoribatika for inviting me to share perspectives on last week’s episode of #AfricaToday. Full interview accessible via . #Africa @AU_AYAPs #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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A good name is worth more than gold. What an honour to finally interact with Dr. @ebklegacy who was the guest speaker at our @AfricaACSS Emerging Leaders seminar. A colleague once said, “Koroma did right by our people” and that spoke volumes about leadership! 🇸🇱. #DemocracyDay
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Happy Thursday! . Last day of engagements happening at and on the sidelines of the Dallaire Institute’s International Symposium on Child, Peace & Security in Kigali, #Rwanda. 🇷🇼|🇷🇼
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I am grateful to the African Union’s Mission to the United Nations for ensuring that my engagements were meaningful. Thank you Amb. @FKMohammed1 @OumDaou @wa_alem & @AfricanUnionUN team for creating a home away from home and for the support throughout. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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1/2 I finally got my copies of “Memory & Erasure,” a book to which I contributed a chapter on post-conflict peacebuilding in #Zimbabwe.
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1/2 Do what you love, love what you do! #YouthforPeaceAfrica . In a world with clear distinctions between the military & civilian communities, I’m incredibly grateful to have delivered this and engaged with #Africa’s security sector actors.
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Excerpts from my interview on @Newzroom405 . I share thoughts on institutional changes within the @_AfricanUnion, Rwanda’s development, the just transition and the #afcfta. Full interview has perspectives on Comoros’ chairmanship of the #AU . #youth #African #politics
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A thread. I attended the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly & left without requesting to take a photo with any president, but I found myself gazing (if not gawking) at the President and First Lady of Botswana on the flight back home. |🇧🇼
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2/2 I am excited that @BrenthurstF announced a #Youth conference to be held in #Somaliland as one of the outputs of this Africa Security Dialogue. Thank you for your commitment to youth-inclusion in practice! 👏🏽.@nathan_mukoma1 @BaxNodada @marienoelleobj @Sureerrr @hartleyr
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Today is my last day working from Pretoria. 🇿🇦|🇿🇦. Thanks to Dr. @smawowa for hosting me at @NLinSouthAfrica yesterday. It was insightful learning about the embassy’s initiatives that focus on youth participation at the national & regional levels. #work #southafrica #learning
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Happy Tuesday! . Thanks to @MompolokiMakwa5 & Employee Africa, a Botswana-based public relations company, for featuring my work in their publication. #AfriCan
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Sometimes the road leads home…. Thanks to @accountlabzw for inviting me to engage with & listen to the #Accountapreners; youth who are committed to social impact in Bulawayo, Hwange, Chiredzi, Harare etc. My highlight was learning about their initiatives. #leadership 🇿🇼|🇿🇼
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Planning to do a last minute application to become the next AYAP/ African Youth Ambassador for Peace? Go for it!! . @AU_AYAPs held an information session over the weekend. Please listen in for some tips & send your application before midnight. 🕛 . #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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The Herald is one of #Zimbabwe’s daily newspapers, which I read quite often growing up. Regional representative, yes! But its always a little special when your home country profiles your work. 🇿🇼🇺🇳. Read more: . @ZimAddisAbaba @MoFA_ZW .#AYAPSouthernAfrica.
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Congratulations to @4hZimbabwe & @JohnMuchenje4 for being recognised and awarded by the @_AfricanUnion for advancing the #YPS agenda; using sports to promote peace among youth of different political affiliations in Zimbabwe. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽. #YouthforPeaceAfrica .#peacebuilding
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I am super-excited to be a part of the Global Peace Africa community. Thank you @GlobalPeaceHQ & @ACCORD_online for this initiative. Looking forward to working together towards a peaceful #Africa . #YouthforPeaceAfrica @T4PAfrica #Y4P .@SAYoF_SADC
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Thoughts on the #AU @60! . What is the AU’s strength? Does Africa have a role to play in global politics? What prospects do the #Agenda2063 & #AfCFTA hold? . I’ll be sharing remarks @ the ‘Long Road to African Unity’ conference. Register on to participate.
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Braved the cold for photos captured after the Thought Leadership Chats at the #London School of Economics. Thanks to @AfricaAtLSE for an engaging session with the PfALers (Programme for African Leadership) scholars. More details in my next tweet/ X-post. #Africa #leadership
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I am excited to share that I am an AYAP for the Southern Africa region. @AUC_PAPS @_AfricanUnion Thank you for entrusting us with this responsibility. What an honour! #youthforpeace #agenda2063
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A photo from this week’s activity in #Uganda. 🇺🇬|🇺🇬. Thanks to @AUC_PAPS Youth for Peace Africa programme & @OHCHR_EARO for an educative and interactive workshop on combating hate speech. #defendhumanrights
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SADCian - a person who identifies with two or more countries in Southern Africa and celebrates those nations’ progress as their own…. Speaking to Executive Secretary @EliasMagosi in SeTswana at the #AUSummit2024 was quite refreshing.
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Pro tip: arguing that #youth must participate in decision-making, solely based on population compositions, trivialises our capabilities! “We’re innovative, resilient & have lived experiences.”-@RhuksA #YouthforPeaceAfrica . Thanks for coming to class.📌#SADCYouth @_IJR_ symposium
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Photos from Day 1️⃣ of the ongoing 10th #Tana Forum on Managing Secutiry Threats. Looking forward to spending this weekend engaging on #peace & #security in Africa. Great to see some youth representatives from across the region! #YouthforPeaceAfrica #tanaforum2022 #Tana10
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Highlights from the ongoing #USAfricaLeadersSummit22 I found the Civil Society Forum discussion, held @USIP very enlightening. Coordination and harmonisation between the state & CSOs is critical to delivering on #SDGs and the #Agenda2063 🌍🇺🇸. #development @AU_AYAPs #africa
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Thanks to Amb. Mukonoweshuro & the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Gaborone for engaging and hosting us on the sidelines of the #SADCYouthForum. 🇿🇼|🇧🇼
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A proud representative of #SouthernAfrica. Thanks to @SAYoF_SADC for giving me something to work with - to amplify. These photos best capture my week. I got to hear feedback from the people I represent, and I don't take that lightly. My heart is full. 🥹🙏🏾. Happy weekend!!!
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I enjoyed the session on developing & implementing National Action Plan (NAPs) in Southern Africa. The outcome document on Youth, Peace & Security is accessible via #YouthforPeaceAfrica #COMESA
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“Take care of the land, not because it was given to you by your grandfathers; it was borrowed/leased to you by your grandchildren.” - a Turkana Proverb. This quote is not about the land only. #HappyYouthDay 🇿🇦|🇿🇦.#Sustainability . #June16
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Looking forward to @SAYoF_SADC x @_IJR_ regional symposium to foster the domestication of #AUTJP. In the meantime, here are some of our region’s young leaders, Hon.@Inna_Hengari MP, Namibia & @MartinezDirkse spokesperson of the President of PDM 🇳🇦👏🏽. #SADCYouth @YDUA_AFRICA #Y4P
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I am super excited for the next generation of #African youth, esp. young African women who no longer have to imagine young women in politics. Insightful meeting with @patience_masua youngest Member of Parliament in Namibia. #politicsunusual #youth #Y4P #agenda2063 #AfricanUnion
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Today marks a year since the passing of Arch. #DesmondTutu - a Nobel Peace Prize awardee, Human Rights Activist & champion of Restorative Justice. Thanks to @TutuLegacy for hosting us earlier this month. When in #CPT please visit the TUTU Exhibition, it’s definitely worth it!
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While it’s been an honour to be called #Zimbabwe for the past days, this is for my region, and for our continent! 🇿🇼🇿🇲🇧🇼🇦🇴🇲🇿🇲🇼🇲🇺🇱🇸🇳🇦🇸🇿 . Thank you @AUC_PAPS for harnessing the demographic dividend and enhancing #YOUTH participation in continental matters #youthforpeace
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I love how my work at @KAS_africa @KAS_PolDiSSA aligns with my role as a Youth Ambassador under @AUC_PAPS. I’ll be spending this week with over 20 young politicians from @YDUA_AFRICA Looking forward to sharing experiences with the nxt generation of leaders. #youthindecisionmaking
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Southern Africa, a region that boasts capable young leaders. Super-proud of @Qhawekazimene Hon. @patience_masua & the SADC Youth Delegation for aptly representing us @sadcpf statutory meeting. We are led!!✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾. @SAYoF_SADC #YouthforPeaceAfrica @AprmChampions @LvNoYuthBehind
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First visit to @UNZimbabwe as an African Youth Ambassador for Peace (AYAP) for Southern Africa. Thanks to Dr. @ztakwa, UN Peace & Development Advisor for continually engaging with #YouthforPeaceAfrica and promoting youth-inclusion in peace building.
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Adding this to my timeline because staying at the Saïd Business School’s Egrove Park at the University of #Oxford was an absolute highlight from #january2024. Also, commercial modelling is a career I might try again… 🤩😊. #grateful #throwback .#OXFORDSHIRE
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#IYD2022 . Thanks to @AaccCeta & @aacc_youth for an interactive discussion; the role of the church and religion is critical. It was an honour for me to share a message of goodwill. Also, I love this T-shirt, “Leaders of tomorrow, tomorrow has come!!!”. #YouthDay2022 #africa #Y4P
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Thank you @AswanForum for including an #AFYouthDialogue at this year’s edition. The roundtable discussion showed a commitment to youth-inclusive decision making. #AswanForum #COP27 #peacebuilding #inclusion #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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1/2 Zimbabwe is one of the countries that are in the process of developing a #NAP on Youth, Peace & Security (YPS). The country hosted the inter-ministerial conference on the role of RECs, RMs and Governments in promoting YPS in Southern Africa last July. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Snippets of our @VOAAfrica interview.on the #USAfricaLeadersSummit 🌍🇺🇸 Thanks to @mikehove_ for the opportunity to share perspectives & aspirations. Click 👉🏾👇🏾 for more @AUC_PAPS @AU_AYAPs @USIP #YouthforPeaceAfrica @achaleke1 .#USAfricaLeadersSummit22
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An #AfricaWeWant largely depends on our successes as individual states & regions. Thanks to @sadcpf for engaging the region’s youth in discussing gender-responsive budgeting and #youth inclusion in public finance management. #SADC @SAYoF_SADC #YouthforPeaceAfrica #AYAP
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No deep caption, just sharing this photo from @KAS_PolDiSSA 11th Election Bridge Conference, in collab with the Democrat Union of Africa. Ta! 💐
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Photos from last Friday’s run-cum-city tour. This was a great way to learn about historical landmarks around CBD, including Parliament, the Three Dikgosi Monument & the 1979 Gaborone Structure Plan. #RunBotswana .#Duespaid
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Yesterday I joined a panel that delivered concluding remarks at the Inaugural Joint Retreat between the #AU PSC and the APRM. Thanks to @APRMorg and @ACCORD_online for their commitment to youth inclusion in practice. #YouthforPeaceAfrica @eddymaloka @AUC_PAPS @AUYouthProgram
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Happy Tuesday! If you missed last week’s episode on the #African Geopardy, please listen in via Dr. @DiplomaticIfe and I reflected on my first year as an #AYAP for Southern Africa & I look forward to what’s in store for 2023 🕯🕯❤️. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Photos from the @KAS_PolDiSSA Election Bridge Conference, which was held in Maputo. @KASonline @KAS_africa .#democracy #development .#Elections2024
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I left #CAF22Delhi with a printed copy of the outcome document of the 3rd #AswanForum. I was heartened to see our contributions included & I am hopeful for more youth-inclusive peacebuilding & development in #Africa. @AswanForum @AU_AYAPs
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The wavelength is regional and continental representation of young people in decision making-processes and institutions. 🙏🏾. Ready to serve!!! . #youthindecisionmaking #2022Ready #YouthforPeaceAfrica .#agenda2063 .#Y4P
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I moderated panel 4️⃣ on enhancing the role of #youth and #women in mediation at the on-going high-level retreat on peace & security in Africa. It was encouraging to hear from some leading women from our region @AU_YouthEnvoy @ChidoCleoMpemba @phumlambongcuka @PatienceChirad3
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The Press Release on the Inaugural Joint Retreat between @_AfricanUnion PSC and the African Peer Review Mechanism @APRMorg is accessible via the link below 👇🏾 . #APRMPSC #Y4P @eddymaloka @Thivhunets @ACCORD_online @itsorit @AprmChampions
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Thank you @MIPAD100 for recognising our contributions to advancing the Youth, Peace & Security agenda in Africa. #YouthforPeaceAfrica #SouthernAfrica @AU_AYAPs
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Flash back Friday #InternationalDayofDemocracy 2022. This year, we’re in #Lusaka for the East & Southern Africa Regional Governance Forum. Join the conversation here:
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Thanks to @_IJR_ x @IrlEmbPretoria for hosting an Intergenerational Dialogue on Women, Peace & Security, in celebration of #WomensMonth in South Africa. My address reflected on similar priorities between WPS & Youth, Peace and Security, an opportunity for collaboration. #Y4P🇿🇦
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Photos from the @KASonline 11th Election Bridge Conference, held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮. @KAS_PolDiSSA @idualliance @YDUA_AFRICA
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Happy birthday to my sister & friend @DianaChando African Youth Ambassador for Peace (AYAP) for East Africa. You’re an admirable patriot and a capable young leader for your country and region. Nakupenda sana, rafiki! ❤️❤️. #Africa #Tanzania
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The teams from @KAS_PolDiSSA @idualliance & @YDUA_AFRICA spent the past months organising the HLPL with Rt Hon. Stephen Harper. It was wonderful to see the pieces finally dovetailing. Special thanks to our KAS office in Ghana. @KAS_africa @rnovak77 @kasethiopia_au #democracy
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@leepha_bruce @Wamagaisa Totonzwa nemi tateguru! Anyway, this is not a top priority, Sherlock. We are in the middle of a pandemic, vazukuru vaMbuya Nehanda are at risk of starvation for crying out loud!!! They face police brutality, their rights are infringed. Mbuya vacho vanofara nazvo here izvi.
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The @AU_YouthEnvoy referenced the recent killings and abductions at a Ugandan school as one of many examples where young people are victims of extremism and terrorism. She underscored engaging #youth in preventive measures. Read more: #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Happy new week from #London. I’m looking forward to spending the next days @WiltonPark contributing to discussions on universal human rights. I am excited to join the opening panel on future prospects/ possible solutions. #Perspectives .#Africa #HumanRights
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Snippet of my @AfricaACSS presentation on Youth, Peace & Security. Discussing YPS with Africa’s security sector actors, i.e the military and police was memorable. Full video accessible via #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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There's something refreshing about innovative and educated youth with international experience wanting to give back to their home countries. Thanks to @AfricaAtLSE for creating a platform to reflect on #leadership, governance, WPS & the African diaspora’s role in #development.
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Photos from @KAS_PolDiSSA x @SAIIA_info Careers Event. We had over 285 online participants & around 70 scholars joining us at #Wits University last Thursday. Well done to the 2022 KAS-SAIIA scholars for organising this event.👏👏👏. #Scholarships #Africa #Students
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Thank you to the Presidency of the Republic of Ghana and Vice President Dr. @MBawumia for the reception at Jubilee House.
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Africa's political space should not only be accommodating, it should also be inviting. Youth and women must have a stake so they are not disinvested to the extent that building our continent is not a mutual priority. #AswanForum #LeaveNoOneBehind #Y4P #Africa
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Last day working in the beautiful city of #CapeTown. We wrapped up one of our last events for 2022 under the @KAS_PolDiSSA programme. Looking forward to a somewhat relaxed #December 😅
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Photos from Day 1️⃣ of #CAF22Delhi . I joined @ElizabethSpehar @Lacroix_UN & @ahmedabdelatif_ for a panel discussion on the Future of Peace Operations. Also, thanks to DG @thinkper for making time to discuss the #YPS in Africa agenda and @AU_AYAPs’ mandate. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Super-excited to share that the webpage for the Regional Programme, @KAS_PolDiSSA is now accessible via the @KASonline official site. Please follow for updates on our work. #PoliticsToday @KAS_africa @kasethiopia_au @KAS_SouthAfrica
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Greetings from Durban where @APRMorg & the @_AfricanUnion Peace and Security Council are hosting their 1st joint retreat, in partnership with @UNDP and @accord_online Great to see Amb. Kamara, who spoke at the announcement of #AYAP-elects in Addis. #APRMPSC #Y4P @Bankole_Adeoye
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This week in #SouthAfrica 🇿🇦 The @APRMorg will be hosting its 4️⃣th Youth Symposium on Democracy & Governance. The programme features young Parliamentarians, youth in CSOs, grassroots, business & politics. To join the conversations, register here: 👉🏾👇🏾
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The @GIZAfricanUnion recently published its annual report for #2022 and our work features in the Faces & Stories segment. I reflected on the 10th @TanaForum - hoping that future fora will bring more youth voices to the forefront of policymaking. More:
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1/2 Yesterday’s brief discussion with Amb. @Bankole_Adeoye shed light into some of the processes involved in institutionalising a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise to strengthen #youth participation in conflict mediation and peace processes. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Photos from the ongoing 3rd Edition of the @AswanForum alongside my fellow #AYAPs. The #AFYouthDialogue provided an opportunity for us to engage on the Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security (CFYPS) & to discuss meaningful #youth participation. #YouthforPeaceAfrica
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Looking forward to this discussion on the #YPS Agenda in Zambia. It's encouraging to see some of the action plans suggested at the High-Level Ministerial meeting continuing in our respective countries. Please join via .#YouthforPeaceAfrica #SADC #Zambia
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1/2 Congratulations to the former @YDUA_AFRICA President, Louisa Atta-Agyemang on her election as the co-chair of #DUA. It was a privilege be a part of this processes and I am extremely encouraged to see more & more young African women in politics across the continent.
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Life, lately. Photos from a much needed break, spent between Kolberg, Szczecin & Berlin. 🫶🏾🇵🇱. #wellness #holiday .#15august2023
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