Following a dynamic first day that explored critical themes such as youth engagement in digital governance, economic inclusion, and the role of young parliamentarians, the second day of the workshop began with a recap of day one. Oliver Mshillah welcomed participants and Youla Nzale encouraged them to share insights from the previous day.

Highlights included enthusiasm for youth involvement in climate action, exemplified by a climate petition in Kenya, and the need for increased youth participation in governance, particularly in the Central African Republic. Discussions also covered the role of technology in bridging gender gaps and enhancing youth engagement, the resilience of candidates who rebounded from election losses, and the importance of addressing varying democratic stages across Africa.

Participants also emphasized the need for greater internet access to boost digital participation and connected democracy with effective climate action, underscoring the vital role of youth, including those with disabilities, in driving societal progress.

 In the opening Remarks, Youla Nzale The Youth Café, the moderator of the day welcomed everyone to Day two and extended formal invitation to Joseph Oduor to present his case study. 

Joseph Oduor (Kisumu) of Leaders for Leaders Champion presented a comprehensive case study on Leaders for Leaders Champion, a community-led organization focused on governance, youth participation, and sustainable development which is based in Kisumu. The organization prioritizes the inclusion of women and people with special needs in leadership, emphasizing principles of equality, justice, and accountability. Their mission is to lead dynamic leadership programs that promote productive engagement and development, with a vision to inspire, empower, inform, and innovate for every leader. Key projects include the Democracy and Youth Project, aimed at enhancing youth participation in political parties and fostering active democracy advocates, and the "I Pledge" Campaign, which recruits ambassadors to promote youth engagement in politics, with significant activities already underway in Kisumu County.

Oduor highlighted several challenges faced by the organization, including idea theft by partners, misinformation and disinformation in Kenya's political landscape, and a lack of resources to sustain their initiatives. He underscored the systemic discrimination and marginalization of youth in political representation, referencing global statistics and reports that reveal the low participation rates of young people in political parties and parliamentary positions. Despite these challenges, the organization remains committed to harnessing the energy and creativity of youth to drive positive change, echoing Kofi Annan's sentiment on the importance of youth engagement in societal progress.

Njeri Gladys of The Youth Agenda introduced Youth Agenda, a dynamic, youth-led organization established in 1896 to combat the widespread exclusion of young people from various life aspects. Committed to the "Total Youth," the organization advocates for a just, equitable, and progressive society where young individuals can fully enjoy their social, economic, and political rights. Njeri emphasized the critical role of youth in driving developmental initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Kenya's Vision 2030, leading to policy changes and the strengthening of youth-led organizations. This case study focused on Youth Agenda's Top 35 Under 35 Awards, a program recognizing innovative youth initiatives tackling exclusion, unemployment, and climate change.

Launched in 2020, the Top 35 Under 35 Awards aim to transform youth from a demographic challenge into a demographic dividend, aligning with the SDGs, Kenya's Vision 2030, and the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda (BETA). The program annually recognizes 35 outstanding youth innovations on International Youth Day, providing platforms for showcasing, financial stability, market access, and networks for incubation, mentorship, and scaling. The award process includes applications, shortlisting, pitch training, final judgments, and a gala event. Despite its success, challenges such as limited funding, the need for structured support, and lack of mentorship persist. Recommendations include enhancing financial resources through partnerships, developing comprehensive incubation programs, and creating robust mentorship networks to support young innovators. 

Titus Kirui I-Voting, discussed how his organization, representing the private sector, engages in democracy, governance, and inclusion. With a 10% increase in phone and internet usage in Africa, he stressed the need for a youth-friendly voting system that allows voting from anywhere. He presented I-Voting, a digital voting system accessible via the web and SSD, successfully used in Machakos University student elections for seven years. He highlighted the advantages of intelligent voting over traditional methods, including increased voter participation, enhanced transparency, and the absence of fraud or corruption.

During the Q&A session, Kirui addressed concerns about the security and accessibility of the I-Voting system. He assured participants that the system is secure and includes features to assist voters with disabilities. He emphasized the robust data protection measures and the system's resilience against technical failures. Kirui also highlighted the success of the system with 20,000 students and its scalability for national elections. Participants tested the application in a mini voting session and received further clarifications from the CEO, including the prevention of multiple votes from a single individual.

Kirui noted that the 2022 elections saw lower youth turnout compared to 2017, highlighting the need for intelligent voting to address this issue. The I-Voting initiative aims to promote transformative democracy, implement election reforms, and eliminate fraud and corruption. The methodology involved engaging students through data collection, review sessions, and training on the I-Voting system. Findings from the case study at Machakos University showed high participation rates, improved security and accessibility, and student empowerment. Despite its successes, the system faced challenges like trust issues, outreach difficulties, and initial technical disparities. Kirui recommended program implementation plotting, system expansion to political parties, collaborative stakeholder efforts, and comprehensive training sessions to enhance the I-Voting system. 

Brian Ngugi, Wangari Maathai Institute of Environmental Studies began his masterclass by framing climate change as an issue deeply rooted in justice, touching on equality, consumerism, equity, impacts, governance, and policies. He stressed that addressing climate change requires a holistic approach encompassing redistribution, recognition, participation, capacity building, and restorative justice. Ngugi highlighted historical factors contributing to climate change, such as feudalism, the industrial revolution, slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and the civil rights movement, which have entrenched capitalistic ideas exacerbating the crisis. He illustrated the disparity by noting that one of the world's wealthiest individuals emits as much carbon as 70,000 people in "sacrifice zones," raising pressing questions about accountability for climate damage.

Ngugi presented the Luciano Lliuya vs. RWE-AG lawsuit to illustrate the complexities of climate justice. Filed in Germany by a Peruvian farmer, the case seeks damages from RWE, a major emitter, for contributing to glacier melt in Peru. RWE denies direct causation, attributing it to multiple emission sources. The case is significant for setting a judicial precedent, highlighting the adage "justice delayed is justice denied." Ngugi raised the pivotal question of who bears responsibility for climate change—the Global North or the Global South—and emphasized the need for polluting companies to acknowledge their impact and take reparative actions, including addressing healthcare concerns and preventing further environmental harm.

Ngugi concluded by stressing the importance of addressing social inequality to combat climate injustice effectively. Using the metaphor of a three-legged stool popularized by Prof. Wangari Maathai, he underscored the need for stability derived from democracy, environment, and peace. He warned against the "Wrong Bus Syndrome," emphasizing the need for proper knowledge and focus to guide efforts in the right direction. Ngugi highlighted the necessity of restoring the social structural divide, not just the materialistic one, and posed whether public schools for all could help achieve this goal. Addressing these social inequalities is crucial for effectively tackling the multifaceted issue of climate injustice.

Brian Githinji moderated a panel discussion on "Strengthening the Rule of Law and Access to Justice for Youth for Healthy Democracies," which emphasized the critical role of enhancing youth engagement in democratic processes. He reflected on Kenya's constitutional evolution, from the Lancaster Constitution of 1962 to the transformative 2010 constitution, urging participants to explore beyond binary viewpoints and appreciate the complexities of legal accountability. 

Nthenya Munyae, Centre for Multiparty Democracy Kenya highlighted their efforts in providing civic education and capacity-building through initiatives like the People Dialogue Festival. She advised young people to connect with human rights organizations, utilize social media thoughtfully, and join legal aid organizations to better access justice.

Diana Pande, Speak Up Afrika discussed the prevalent lack of youth leadership in African countries, which contributes to youth apathy and ineffective participation in democratic processes. She stressed the importance of building partnerships to secure resources citing examples like the "Sisi Kwa Sisi" initiative and encouraged young people to network and advocate for their agendas.

The session concluded with a debate on the role of civic protests, particularly Maandamano. Diana affirmed the right to peaceful protest but cautioned against destructive actions and emphasized the need for dialogue and constructive solutions. She advocated for responsible social media use and prudent decision-making in civic engagement. Challenges highlighted included limited access to information, lack of trust in institutions, and misinformation on social media. Recommendations included utilizing grassroots frameworks, enhancing youth leadership, promoting accurate information, fostering partnerships for youth-led initiatives, and encouraging peaceful advocacy.

Watson Wambugu's masterclass on Digital Tools in Democracy emphasized the pivotal role of digital tools in enhancing democracy and governance in Kenya, where 70% of the population engages with technology. He explored key areas like digital participation, e-voting, and cyber security, identifying emerging trends such as AI integration, blockchain databases, mobile voting, virtual town halls, data analytics, and global collaboration. These technologies are reshaping public engagement and decision-making by increasing voter participation, ensuring data transparency, and fostering international cooperation.

Wambugu also addressed challenges such as cyber security risks, unequal access to digital tools, misinformation, and privacy concerns. He recommended developing comprehensive digital integration strategies, raising awareness through education, involving stakeholders in implementation, investing in infrastructure, and protecting data privacy. He concluded by underscoring the importance of embracing AI and VR technologies to improve public engagement and uphold democratic values.

During the interactive discussion session the participants divided into groups to tackle Thematic Areas.  Voice and Democracy: This discussion highlighted the multifaceted approach required to enhance civic engagement and democratic governance. Key strategies include leveraging proven tools such as internet voting systems and social media for broader participation, implementing legal and educational reforms to strengthen democracy, and using public protests and advocacy for social change. Innovations such as digital elections, online training, and apps for political engagement are emerging, while proposed methodologies emphasize community-based approaches, collaboration with religious groups, and intergenerational knowledge exchange to effectively engage citizens in democratic processes.

Health and Sexual Rights: Addressing health and sexual rights involves ensuring access to essential services and education, particularly for marginalized communities. Existing approaches include pad drives to manage menstrual hygiene, increasing contraceptive accessibility, integrating comprehensive sex education in high schools, and establishing youth-friendly health centers. Opportunities for improvement include expanding affordable medical services and enhancing family planning. Innovations such as local production of sanitary products and diverse contraceptive options aim to increase accessibility and support local economies, thus promoting reproductive health and autonomy.

Education and Livelihood: Education is critical for personal and societal development, providing skills and opportunities for better livelihoods. Existing approaches in education focus on free and subsidized schooling, the establishment of libraries, and the promotion of technical and vocational training. Opportunities include strengthening TVET institutions, adopting a competence-based curriculum, and creating incubation centers for innovation. These measures aim to enhance skill development, address educational disparities, and foster economic opportunities, ultimately contributing to more equitable and effective educational outcomes.

Climate Justice: Climate justice emphasizes equitable approaches to addressing climate change by incorporating justice into climate action. Key tools include social media for awareness, deliberative democratic processes for inclusive decision-making, and technology for policy-making and public education. Existing opportunities involve leveraging local expertise and fostering collaboration between governments and international organizations. Proposed innovations such as using art and culturally significant symbols aim to communicate climate justice messages effectively and inclusively, ensuring broad engagement and culturally appropriate climate action strategies.

Generally, the forum provided an in-depth exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing African youth in governance, climate action, and economic empowerment. Emphasizing capacity building and youth engagement, it highlighted the transformative role of community-driven initiatives in fostering peace and stability. Discussions on digital governance underscored the need to bridge the digital divide for equitable development, while insights from speakers stressed integrating mental health and environmental sustainability into development agendas.

Panel discussions offered practical strategies for enhancing political inclusivity and effective climate action, advocating for robust governance frameworks and transparent processes. The forum showcased inspiring youth-led initiatives and emphasized the importance of leveraging technology, strengthening civic engagement, and fostering inclusive governance for advancing sustainable development in Africa.

The workshop marked a significant milestone by finalizing and launching the Advocacy Toolkit, along with creating a Youth Advocacy Action Plan and a Self-Assessment Reporting Template. These resources are designed to empower young advocates and amplify their voices in global advocacy efforts. The event fostered collaboration among young advocates and partners, producing robust tools and strategies to address key themes including Education and Livelihoods, Health and Sexual Rights, Voice and Democracy, and Climate Justice.

African nations are called upon to prioritize youth participation in governance by investing in leadership development programs and supporting freedom of expression to ensure young voices are heard and respected. Cultivating a culture of political engagement and human rights advocacy among youth is crucial for fostering active participation in democratic processes and advancing human rights across the continent.