Press Releases

ChildFund International and LEAP Africa, a youth-focused leadership development organization, have entered into a partnership to implement youth development programs in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Zambia and Mozambique.

Under this partnership, the two organizations will jointly design and deliver programs for youth on leadership, education, employability, and entrepreneurship; undertake joint resource mobilization for youth-focused development programs; and implement the Youth Day of Service; an annual week-long-a Pan-African youth-led social impact campaign that begins on August 12 every year. The Day is designed to ignite the agency and creativity of young people across Africa towards sustainable development and promote a culture of communal support and community development.

The partnership combines LEAP Africa’s innovative programs for youth with ChildFund’s experience in implementing development programs, including education and skilling, targeting adolescents and youth in marginalized and under-resourced communities across Africa.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure young people have agency, rights, influence, connection and opportunities to pursue their life goals and contribute to the development of their communities. We must tap into the potential of our youth by increasing their participation and strengthening youth collective action in order to bring about the transformative change that Africa so desperately needs.” Chege added. The growing challenge of climate change in Africa presents an ideal opportunity for youth to engage in and support adaptation and mitigation programming including the creation of green jobs and enterprises.

“This partnership with ChildFund is strategic to us as an organization. LEAP Africa is committed to supporting and nurturing the agency of young people across the continent with skills and tools to enable them to become transformative leaders in their sphere of influence. This partnership provides an enormous opportunity to stimulate conversation and engage the hands and hearts of individuals, public and private stakeholders toward sustainable development. Our partnership with ChildFund will deepen our footprints with youth across key regions in Africa and create room for more impact with the Youth Day of Service going forward.” Kehinde Ayeni, Acting Executive Director”

In addition to rolling out youth-focused programs, ChildFund and LEAP Africa will also focus on implementing youth-led advocacy and policy influencing at local, national, and regional levels, by engaging with policy- and decision-makers on matters related to youth development.