Training in Zambia by Oxfam: Strengthening Youth Advocacy Through Public Narrative

From 8–12 December 2025, Oxfam in Africa led one of its partner-facilitated trainings in the framework of the the AU‑EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective programme. The training took place in Zambia and was part of a wider series of activities delivered across Zambia, Burkina Faso, South Sudan, and Nigeria strengthening youth leadership across the continent.

The Public Narrative Approach to Advocacy training brought together 30 young activists from youth‑led organizations across Zambia, including participants from rural communities and marginalized groups. The participants were introduced to the Public Narrative framework, a technique that connects values, emotions, and collective action. They explored how personal stories, shared experiences, and community values can be transformed into powerful advocacy tools, particularly in advancing gender justice, climate justice, and transformative education. 

The training also provided hands‑on guidance for designing and implementing small‑scale advocacy actions rooted in evidence, lived experience, and collective purpose.A key component of the training focused on deepening the understanding of the functioning of the African Union, European Union, and the Africa-EU partnership.

By the end of the training, participants had gained practical skills in crafting public narratives to mobilize communities and influence policy. The Public Narrative Approach to Advocacy training represents a significant step in expanding youth‑led policy engagement at local, national, and continental levels. 

Through partner‑facilitated trainings like this one, the AU‑EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective programme continues to build a generation of young leaders capable of driving transformative change.