AU-EU Youth Voices Lab Ambassador Training in Kenya: ComDev Africa preparing young leaders for community impact

Yet another successful AU-EU Youth Voices Lab Ambassador Training was organized by ComDev Africa, this time in Nairobi, Kenya. The training brought together ten youth ambassadors from Nairobi, Nyeri, and Machakos for an intensive two-day capacity-building session. The training aimed to equip them with the skills to recruit and train mobilizers, engage communities, and implement impact-driven initiatives in 2025 and beyond.

The first day of the training focused on community building and leadership development. Participants were introduced to ComDev Africa’s mission and the broader objectives of the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab. They explored the importance of youth leadership in fostering sustainable social solidarity economies and driving social change. Icebreaker activities and team-building exercises helped establish strong connections among the ambassadors, fostering an environment of collaboration and trust. A key highlight of the day was a session on Design Thinking, a problem-solving approach emphasizing human-centered solutions. Through hands-on exercises, participants analyzed real-world community challenges and brainstormed innovative strategies to address them. This session laid the foundation for the development of impactful community-based initiatives.

The second day of the training focused on practical skills development. Ambassadors received training in effective communication, community engagement strategies, and using digital tools such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for documentation and reporting. A session on workshop facilitation provided them with techniques for leading intelligence workshops and fostering meaningful community dialogue. Participants also examined case studies of successful community impact projects, sharing experiences and lessons learned from past initiatives. This exchange of ideas helped refine their approach to designing and implementing future projects.

The final sessions were dedicated to planning concrete actions for 2025. Ambassadors mapped out activities tailored to their regions, identifying key stakeholders and mobilization strategies. They worked in groups to create city-specific action plans, ensuring their initiatives aligned with their communities’ needs and priorities. A retro-planning exercise helped establish clear steps for implementation. The training concluded with reflections from participants, who expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge and skills gained. The event successfully strengthened the ambassadors’ capacity to drive meaningful community engagement and positioned them as key AU-EU Youth Voices Lab programme actors. With a strong foundation in leadership, communication, and project planning, they are now ready to mobilize local youth and implement initiatives that will create lasting impacts in their communities.