KIYO DRC launches National Youth Advisory Board

NYAB DRC gives a voice to youth in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

In a Congolese society that is still very patriarchal and hierarchical, young people report that it is difficult to make their voices heard, despite their motivation and experience. Congolese youth have little space to express themselves, talk to each other and participate in decisions that affect them. 

For KIYO, it is vital to give Congolese youth a voice through a structure that allows them to freely express themselves on the evolution of their context, positions or perspectives, priorities, etc. 

Through this National Youth Advisory Board, KIYO ensures that the voice of the youth is taken into account in its programmes and in all its governance structures. After all, KIYO is convinced that youth are the future that is already starting today!

From left to right: Anderson Nkurunziza(Chairman)-Alice Mugisho(Vice-Chairwoman)- Omar Dynah(Secretary) and Faustin Bahati(Deputy Secretary)

Composition

KIYO DRC launched this National Youth Advisory Board during a workshop on youth participation and global citizenship held on 12 and 13 January 2024 in Goma, North Kivu province.

The youth members addressed a number of key themes related to governance, security, diversity, protection and safeguarding the rights of children and youth, networking, peer learning, leadership, solidarity and advocacy.

The National Youth Advisory Board is a multicultural and inclusive structure. It consists of youth from different areas of the provinces of North and South Kivu, delegated by ADED and ASCEN, partners of KIYO in DR Congo. This council aims to be a nucleus of cohesion and collective awareness for a new generation of committed youth.

The youth members were selected based on their interest in representing other youth, their leadership skills and their commitment to making a positive difference in society. This provides a diverse perspective on a range of issues affecting the youth and their communities.

The youth set up a steering committee comprising 9 dynamic young leaders linked to KIYO's partners. Among them, a president, a vice-president, a secretary and an assistant secretary were elected. Through a secret ballot, everyone was asked to nominate their preferred candidates for the four key positions mentioned above. The youth with the most votes for a particular position was elected. This exercise was also meant to strengthen the democratic culture within the National Youth Advisory Board .  

To give young people space to think about issues that cross their local boundaries, focal points were appointed for each site in the two provinces, including Goma, Bukavu, Masisi, Nyiragongo and Uvira, to support the steering committee in mobilising youth at the local level.

Roles 

Diversity among the young members of the advisory board is important for dynamic engagement to include the following roles:

  • Advisor to the KIYO office in DRC around programmatic decisions and strategic directions.
  • Spokesperson for the organisation's impact through effective communication with external audiences. 
  • Making the voice of Congolese youth heard through local advocacy and exchanges with other youth in the country and around the world (Youth2Youth). 
  • Directly inspiring other youth in the community through their own initiatives for a more sustainable and just society.

Perspectives

This National Youth Advisory Board aims to be a direct inspiration to other youth in the community. The youth have decided to take direct action through the TAI (Talent, Action, Inspiration) project to inspire and shape other Congolese youth. TAI (Swahili for Eagle) aims to encourage youth to discover their talents, use them for the collective good and inspire others. Its motto is: "I discover my talents, I take action and I inspire others".

The youth are motivated and express themselves

The elected president, Mr Anderson Nkurunziza

The president-elect, Mr Anderson Nkurunziza, said: "I am delighted to be part of this opportunity to unlock our potential as young leaders in our communities by getting involved in various dialogue and practice processes with KIYO. I am confident that we will maximise our potential and act to discover our talents, use them and inspire others".

The elected vice-president, Ms Alice Mugisho, added: "The NYAB is a great opportunity given to us by KIYO to identify and discuss the challenges and solutions facing youth, but it is also an open door and a space for us young people to express ourselves and exchange ideas, and to take part in the decisions that concern us. This is our chance to showcase our skills and ambitions and help a large number of other Congolese youth to realise their dreams in the various aspects of their lives".