AYSA Africa

31/08/2026

After weeks of learning, mapping communities, conducting fieldwork, engaging with local realities, and designing policy solutions to address identified community challenges, MAP4CHANGE is coming to a close.

AYSA Africa invites the MAP4CHANGE cohort, partners, facilitators, and invited guests to join us for the MAP4CHANGE Closing Ceremony, a moment to reflect on the journey, celebrate the work accomplished, and recognize the young people who turned community insights into evidence-informed policy ideas for change.

📅 Saturday, 12 September 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 FES Bastos, Yaoundé

The ceremony will bring together the MAP4CHANGE community as we celebrate the experiences, insights, and contributions that have shaped this cohort.

Join our WhatsApp group to remain updated:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KvU62FjRzhN11pArdiIFJ9?s=cl&p=i&mlu=4

We mapped communities. We listened. We learned. We designed. Now, we celebrate.

We look forward to seeing you there.

AYSA Africa
Mapping Communities. Driving Change.

U.S. Embassy Yaounde Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations Development Programme - UNDP United Nations World Bank Africa Open Dreams Cameroon Youth Awards Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All Make A Spark Peace First

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

From Communities to Policy: Map4Change Hits the Field in Yaoundé

Yesterday, more than 35 Map4Change fellows in Yaoundé, Centre Region, took a major step from learning to action.

Working across health, education, environment, and infrastructure, our fellows went into communities to listen, engage, and understand challenges directly from the people experiencing them. They held meaningful conversations with community members, gathered evidence, and documented realities that deserve greater attention.

But this was more than a field visit. It was the beginning of turning community voices into evidence-based solutions.

With the data collected, the fellows will now move to the next stage: developing policy briefs and practical recommendations to be shared with local decentralized authorities. The goal is clear, to ensure that local development decisions are informed by evidence and grounded in the realities of communities.

The Map4Change fieldwork therefore marks a significant milestone in building a generation of young people who do not simply identify problems, but listen, document, analyze, and contribute to solutions.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our main sponsor, Peace First, and to all our partners Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung World Bank Africa Open Dreams Cameroon Youth Awards Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All Make A Spark , supporters, mentors, facilitators, community leaders, and everyone contributing to the success of Map4Change.

The journey continues from mapping challenges to shaping solutions.



U.S. Embassy Yaounde Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations United Nations Development Programme - UNDP African Development Bank Group National Endowment for Democracy

26/08/2026

What if your next leadership opportunity begins with volunteering?

Join us for an insightful conversation on “Volunteerism: A Pathway to Leadership and Top Management” and discover how purposeful service can translate into skills, networks, influence, and professional growth.

📅 29 August | 6:00–7:00 PM CAT
💻 Google Meet

Join the group to receive updates and access details:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DDTGrUEpBeDB3d6d7y5SJK?s=cl&p=a&ilr=1

U.S. Embassy Yaounde Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations United Nations Development Programme - UNDP World Bank Africa Open Dreams Cameroon Youth Awards Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All

24/08/2026

Panel Discussion: The Role of Youth in Local Governance and Community Development

Moderator: Mr Ekah Robert

The panel discussion brought together perspectives on the critical role of young people in strengthening local governance and advancing sustainable community development. The session explored how youth can move beyond being beneficiaries of development initiatives to becoming active contributors, decision-makers, and partners in local governance processes. Panelists highlighted the importance of meaningful youth participation, civic engagement, accountability, and collaboration with local authorities in addressing community challenges. Participants gained practical insights into how young people can leverage their skills, perspectives, and collective action to influence local decision-making, promote inclusive governance, and contribute to more resilient and sustainable communities.

Animée autour du rôle des jeunes dans la gouvernance locale et le développement communautaire, cette table ronde a permis d’examiner les moyens par lesquels les jeunes peuvent devenir des acteurs à part entière des processus de développement local. Les échanges ont mis en lumière l’importance d’une participation significative des jeunes, de l’engagement citoyen, de la redevabilité et d’une collaboration renforcée avec les autorités locales. Les participants ont ainsi acquis des perspectives pratiques sur la manière dont les jeunes peuvent mettre leurs compétences, leurs idées et leur engagement collectif au service de la prise de décision locale, de la gouvernance inclusive et d’un développement communautaire plus résilient et durable.

U.S. Embassy Yaounde Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations United Nations Development Programme - UNDP World Bank Africa Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All Cameroon Youth Awards

23/08/2026

MAP4CHANGE | NORTH WEST FIELD ACTIVITY 🌍

On 23 August 2026, fellows conducted a community mapping exercise in Tubah, Bambili, North West Region of Cameroon, focusing on Environment and Waste Management.

The field activity enabled young people to move beyond theory and engage directly with community realities through observation, questionnaires, community conversations and evidence gathering.

The fellows explored waste disposal practices, plastic pollution, drainage, waste collection systems and other environmental challenges, while listening to community perspectives on the causes, impacts and possible solutions.

The exercise was followed by an experience-sharing and reflection session, allowing fellows to compare findings, identify lessons and develop pathways for evidence-based action.

The next step is to consolidate the findings into clear recommendations and practical youth-led environmental actions.

We commend the MAP4CHANGE North West fellows for their commitment, teamwork and dedication to community transformation, and appreciate Adjairu Yunus, Activity Coordinator, for coordinating the exercise.

MAP4CHANGE: Mapping realities. Empowering youth. Driving community action.



U.S. Embassy Yaounde Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations United Nations Development Programme - UNDP World Bank Africa Cameroon Youth Awards Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All Peace One Day Peace First

18/08/2026

AYSA AFRICA at the Open Dreams Community Engagement Fair

AYSA AFRICA was honored to participate in the Community Engagement Fair Day of the Open Dreams Summer Academy in Yaoundé, following the invitation of Open Dreams.

Represented by our Chief of Staff Steen Frédéric Essono and Volunteer Lead, we had the opportunity to engage with the Legacy Batch, share our work, and connect with young people passionate about community development and positive change.

We sincerely thank Open Dreams for the invitation and for creating this inspiring space for learning, connection, and youth engagement.

Together, we continue to inspire youth leadership and community impact.

12/08/2026

International Youth Day 2026

To the young people shaping tomorrow: this is your time to rise, lead, and make a difference.

Your ideas can inspire change. Your courage can move communities forward. Your actions today can shape the Africa we want tomorrow.

Do not wait for the future. Build it. Lead it. Own it.

Happy International Youth Day 2026.

U.S. Embassy Yaounde Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ministère de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Civique 237 United Nations United Nations Development Programme - UNDP World Bank Africa Network for Solidarity Empowerment and Transformation for All