YALI's Programs

Since its establishment, The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has lived-up to the billing by ensuring that a platform is created for young people to participate in democratic processes. Through a series of activities, YALI has positioned itself as an umbrella of youth organizations in Zambia by bringing together several young leaders from different sectors of society including members of the Youth Governance Alliance, Council of Youth Ambassadors, United Nations Youth Association, Operation Young Vote and so many others to promote civic education, monitor elections and debate among the young people of Zambia with the support of the Political and Economic Affairs Section of the US Embassy. YALI has also enlisted young people’s engagement with leaders at the local level in local government, the legislature through Members of Parliament, the executive through cabinet ministers and the general leadership of the country through high ranking government officials and opposition leaders.

In the region, YALI has with the support of the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy, engaged and collaborated via DVC and face book with young people from different civil society organisations in Malawi and Swaziland. In the same vein, YALI has also collaborated with CSOs and young leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Zanzibar on elections monitoring and youth engagement in democratic processes with the support of a Dutch foundation called Hivos International.

With this rich background, YALI’s membership has boomed with the establishment of 87 leadership development clubs across the country in high schools, universities, colleges, higher learning institutions and now boasts of over 5875 members with several young professionals from civil society, government and the private sector. YALI has attracted support of several international organizations including the U.S. Department of State through the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka Zambia. YALI has also partnered with the USAID and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) – on the Zambia’s youth leadership development and mentorship programs, and the youth engagement in the constitutional reform processes project.

The organisation has also received support from the United Nations Development Program, UNDP through its 2009-2012 Elections Project Cycle with ECZ to conduct non-violent campaigns during Zambia’s 2011 tripartite elections with young people from all political parties in Zambia.  YALI has also partnered with the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Irish Embassy and the Department for International Development (DFID) to enable the organisation to conduct its governance activities and promote the UNITE Campaign to end violence against women and girls. YALI also collaborates with the UNESCO Youth Forum and shared its experiences at the 2011 conference hosted in Paris, France. The YALI has also received support from the Dutch foundation called Hivos in implementing its SCREAM for human rights and democracy project. Additionally, Hivos has provided support to YALI to create a network with young people in Kenya and East Africa to share experiences of the Zambian youth in elections as well assist in monitoring of the 2013 Kenyan elections.

YALI stands out as an organisation that is an outspoken advocate for youth democratic engagement and non-violent action in promoting peace and justice for all human beings. YALI is a team player and collaborates well with several partners at home and abroad in the Southern and East African region as well as in the Diaspora.