EYPD

Today, we honor the brave men and women who stood firm against tyranny to ensure our freedom.

The Patriots Day, teaches us that no obstacle is too great when a generation is united by a clear vision. At EYPD, we believe the best way to honor our patriots is by being “architects of progress”.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mukoma Regis Mtutu. He was a dedicated advocate for justice and gender equality, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire us all. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends.

Rest in peace.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, and behind every meaningful beginning, there are challenges, sacrifices, and people who choose to believe in the vision before it becomes visible to many.

Like many youth-led organizations, the journey of Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development , has not always been easy. There were moments 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 Mr. Esmael Gebi, our Board Chair person, for standing with the organization during some of its most challenging moments. 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. It has been a reminder that leadership is also about believing, supporting, and showing up when it matters most.

His contribution has strengthened Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development’s foundation and encouraged the team to keep moving forward with purpose.

On behalf of the organization, thank you, Esmael Gebi , for your invaluable support, meaningful contribution, and for standing with Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development. Your commitment has played an important role in our growth, and we deeply value it.

As part of our WE-Care project funded by Oxfam in Ethiopia, female Gender Club leaders at Meri Hidassie Primary School are leading conversations on the care economy.

By discussing unpaid domestic work, we are empowering students to support one another and advocate for change.

Yesterday, the students held an inspiring and successful dialogue session!

Through our 𝐖𝐄-𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, funded by Oxfam in Ethiopia, we are encouraging male students to take an active role in supporting their female peers by addressing the domestic care economy.

Earlier this evening our club leaders held a dialogue session at 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 brought students together for a meaningful conversation to promote a shared responsibility.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 for Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Eng. Chala Aseffa, our 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, for his vision, leadership, and steadfast commitment in laying the foundation and guiding the growth of Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development over the years.

As he transitions into the role of Founder and Advisor, we remain grateful for his enduring contribution and continued belief in the institution he helped build.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 Mr. Alem Kahsay into this 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 as Executive Director of the Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development. With his proven dedication, strong institutional understanding, and commitment to our shared vision, we are confident in the future of EYDP under his leadership.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐄𝐘𝐏𝐃).

Today, we officially introduce EYPD, Ethiopian Youth for Peace and Development.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 more than a new name and visual identity. 𝐈𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: strengthening young people-led advocacy and action that addresses the drivers of conflict and exclusion while advancing resilient, inclusive development. Ethiopia’s realities demand integrated solutions, where peacebuilding is connected to social cohesion, livelihoods, and community resilience, and where young people are recognised as leaders of their own priorities.

𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 a humanitarian–development–peace “triple nexus” approach that connects immediate needs,long term development , and sustained peace.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 is also a commitment to the principles we stand for: inclusion, partnership, sustainability, and excellence, backed by accountability and evidence-informed advocacy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 this direction through a symbol of protected growth and progress, reflecting our commitment to supporting young people to rise and contribute to peaceful, stable communities.

𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 and stakeholders to invest in young people-led solutions, by expanding civic and policy space for meaningful youth participation, supporting locally rooted peacebuilding, and financing integrated approaches that connect immediate needs with long-term development outcomes.

𝐄𝐘𝐏𝐃 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.

On April 19th, we organized a Dialogue Facilitation Training for selected Gender Club Leaders from Yeka Abado and Meri Hidassie Primary evening schools at the Azzeman Hotel.

This capacity-building session focused on addressing unpaid and underpaid care and domestic work, while sharpening the facilitation skills necessary to lead dialogues within the newly established gender clubs for evening students.