On the 8th of November 2021, the East Africa Youth Fellowship Program was officially launched at the Youlead Summit 2021 held at the Arusha International Conference center. A partnership between The East Africa Community, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) and MS Training Center for Development Cooperation (MS-TCDC).
The fellowship is a response to a need identified by EA youth at the 2019 YouLead summit – with a focus on youth leadership in the public sector and in business and innovation. The fellowship is African driven, led and youth centered.
The First Fellowship Co creation session was hosted in the Pan-African Hall at MS-TCDC Grounds with 24 youth representatives from all 6 EAC member countries including Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi xxx with 4 representatives from each. The objective of the session was to involve youth present in the summit in development of content of the fellowship program by assessing the gaps they face in leadership, business and innovation and unveil possible opportunities in the areas. The session was facilitated by Ms. Angela Damas- AYD Program Manager, JMKF and coordination assistance by Mr. Nicholaus Luoga – AYD fellow, JMKF.
The session ensured diversity by mixing participants from member states in groups. Multiple Group exercises were conducted in identify gaps, causes, and effects in areas of business or politics to be addressed by the fellowship and presented as a summary of the group discussions and issues discussed. The participant got to determine criteria’s to be included in selecting representatives for Focus groups in Co-creation of fellowship programs to include People living with disability and gender inclusivity among the few.
JMKF invites other like-minded and youth focused organizations to collaborate in this co-creation process and in the implementation of this unique program that is aimed to have its first intake in October 2022!
