I first came across the World Youth Alliance through a newsletter I signed up for. From the very beginning, I was drawn to WYA’s work and mission. The way WYA promotes human dignity, especially under the leadership of passionate and committed young people, deeply inspired me. It amazed me to see how their dedication extended even to global platforms like the United Nations.
In 2019, I had the privilege of joining a Certified Training Program in Prague. It was an incredible experience where I met young people and trainers from around the world, all united by a shared passion for human dignity. This was followed by a Training of Trainers (TOT) program that prepared me to take this mission further. After completing my studies in philosophy in Poland, I returned to Ethiopia and felt a strong call to bring the WYA vision to my country.
That’s when I decided to establish the Ethiopian Chapter of WYA. We started spreading the message of human dignity among university and high school students. Shortly after, we hosted our first Certified Training Program (CTP). Even during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted by organizing training sessions online. Over the past five years, the WYA Ethiopia Chapter has grown significantly and trained more than 200 young people.
We are now a registered non-profit organization and have gained recognition from various groups for empowering young people to become defenders of human dignity. Through my years with WYA, I’ve seen how young people can be powerful instruments of change, influencing society’s culture and policies to uphold human dignity.
In 2024, our chapter began working to launch the Human Dignity Curriculum (HDC) in Ethiopia. The curriculum is currently being translated into Amharic and will be piloted in schools around Ethiopia next year. Introducing the concept of human dignity to young people at an early stage will give them a solid foundation to understand who they are, to love themselves, and to respect others.
A second exciting initiative is our work with the African Union (AU). Since Ethiopia is the seat of the AU, our chapter has the opportunity to play a significant role in bringing WYA’s principles and mission to millions of African youth. Through the AU, we aim to expand WYA’s vision across the continent, empowering African youth to embrace and advocate for human dignity.
WYA has a proud tradition of entrusting leadership roles to young people, and it is in this spirit that our chapter continues the tradition. We actively invite young people to step forward, take the torch, and spread the message of human dignity to others.
My journey with WYA has taught me that an individual can contribute to something great and that the voices of young people truly matter. It has been an honor to be part of this movement.