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The Youth Café Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnus Takes Part In The U.S. Department Of State’s Summit For Democracy.

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The Youth Café Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnus Takes Part In The U.S. Department Of State’s Summit For Democracy.

2018 #MandelaWashington Fellow Willice Onyango will join the #SummitforDemocracy Youth Town Hall convened by @POTUS . Young voices participating in democracy can make a difference and inspire action!

In December, members of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Network participated in the U.S. Department of State’s first Summit for Democracy, which brought together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action. Fellowship Alumni and a Reciprocal Exchange Participant took part in a Youth Town Hall hosted by Linda Thomas Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

We’re proud to share that Willice Onyango, the Executive Director of The Youth Café was among some of the Alumni that were included and mentioned in the discussion:

The Youth Cafés Executive Director, Mr. Willice Onyango, as a Kenyan youth representative, attended the Youth Town Hall, moderated by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Mr. Willice asked his question as follows; Today, we find many young people want to engage in politics but are disheartened by the negative image projected by the current political elite and their apparent inability to tackle multiple crises. What do you think about nontraditional paths to political leadership, and how effective are non-formal education approaches in developing democratic attitudes particularly among youth?

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield responded by noting that democratic attitudes can come from anywhere. The formal education system can certainly foster democratic values, but those who develop their opinions through less traditional educational approaches can adopt democratic norms and values. 

She pointed out that she has seen people in Liberia, women in the marketplace, voting. They didn't have formal education but they had values and a commitment to education and likewise, individuals who are raised in non-democratic countries may embrace democracy as the way forward, even if formally educated to think otherwise. There is no one path. The more we remember that, the more likely we are to end up with a diverse government that reflects a country's population.

On the nontraditional paths to political leadership, she added that great leaders can come from anywhere. The more we encourage that, the more likely we are to have leaders that look like us and better reflect the community they serve. Finally, we need to get and keep young people engaged in politics to break that elite capture. 

The US manages a range of youth leadership initiatives to help empower the next generation, including The Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Young African Leaders Initiative, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, the Young Pacific Leaders, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, and the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative. With that conclusion, she noted that the US is working on these issues, and is looking forward to continuing working with youth leaders across the globe.

For further information of the remarks and highlights by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield during the Summit for Democracy Youth Town Hall.

The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience and transformative change.

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