On 29 November, the Youth Leadership for Emerging Future (YLEF) Programme, implemented by Ashoka Poland and supported by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy and Save the Children, was wrapped up with the final event.
Kicked off in March 2024, the programme gathered 40 young changemakers from Poland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Slovakia. Their journey was full of challenges and achievements, such as implementing four innovative projects. It was also a great networking and peer learning opportunity, and we were excited to talk about it on our podcast.
Imagine the Future: Youth Leading the Way
The closing event was focused on the importance of preparedness for unpredictable future crises through acquiring valuable skills, fostering networks, and facilitating cross-generational experience exchange and peer learning.
Pawel Mania, Deputy Director for Impact & Influence at the HLA, shares:
– Speaking on the Imagine the Future panel, I reflected on how we have to stop framing issues as “us vs. them” and start seeing leadership as a shared responsibility within our societies. The day highlighted that while the future is uncertain, we can be better prepared by shifting how we think and act. Humanitarianism is not charity—it’s justice. Young people know this, and their innovative ideas remind us how much we need to learn from them. This day was full of insights, energy, and hope for a more inclusive and equitable future. I am excited to continue these conversations and actions as the HLA develops more youth-oriented programmes and partnerships.
Photo by Olena Herasym
The attendees celebrated the projects led by the programme participants, tackling pressing challenges in their communities such as civic engagement, education, networking, wellbeing, and crisis intervention. They engaged in thoughtful discussions and fishbowl conversations on redefining success, freedom, and authenticity in an age of social media; how humanitarian skills can drive changemaking during crises and other pertinent topics.
Be brave enough to challenge the status quo.
Changemakers don’t say ‘I’, we say ‘WE’.
Success is about feeling okay with yourself and truly liking yourself.
As our colleagues in Ashoka pointed out, while this event marked the conclusion of the programme, it also represented the first step for this group of young changemakers in creating the future they envision and aspire to.
Youth Leadership for Emerging Future (YLEF) Programme
Updates from the Youth Leadership for Emerging Future programme
