YDoS is a youth-focused leadership development organization committed to raising leaders that will transform Africa; through interventions for young people, that bridge the gap in leadership, education, employability, and entrepreneurship.
YDoS is a one-month, annual Pan-African, youth-led social impact campaign which coincides with the celebration of the UN International Youth Day in August. It is a platform to harness African youths' energy, creativity, and innovation by encouraging them to volunteer their time, skills, and resources to deliver a sustainable future for Africa.
Since its inception in 2020, the Youth Day of Service (YDoS) has been a powerful catalyst for youth engagement and sustainable development in Africa. With a geographical spread across 28 countries, YDoS has engaged 17,780 young volunteers in nearly 703 SDG-aligned regional projects and reached over six million people.
This year, The Youth Day of Service aims to connect 12,000 youths across the continent, amplifying the voices and actions of young change makers, to drive impact in their local communities.
At LEAP Africa, we believe that by resourcing young people with the tools and resources they need to make a positive impact on their communities, they are empowered to become active agents of change and support accelerated progress towards the SDGs
Today, young people aged 15 to 24 account for 16% of the global population. Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with 70% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. This shows the continent teeming with creative, vibrant, and energetic youth.
By 2030, the target date for the actualisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the number of youths globally is projected to have grown by 7%. Of this 7%, it is projected that Sub-Saharan Africa will have more than double the youth population of China.
The combination of century-old problems and unprecedented challenges youth face in Africa today calls for quick interventions by different institutions to save the future. Our young people have the potential to influence and impact their communities and nations positively.
According to the United Nations, if the youths are provided with the necessary skills and opportunities to reach their potential, they can be a driving force for supporting development.
The COVID-19 pandemic clearly showed that Africa lags behind the rest of the world in implementing the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and one of the ways to accelerate the actualisation of the Global goals is to engage the energy and creativity of African youth.
Through volunteerism and social activism, young Africans can play a critical role in actualising the SDGs. Volunteerism, indeed, is an essential vehicle for sustainable development.
Through volunteering, youths are contributing daily to the growth of their communities. From advocating for justice and equality to tree planting, young people have proven their centrality in building and sustaining healthy and inclusive communities.
It is impossible to attain the SDGs without volunteerism, and data shows that African youths increasingly take an active role in volunteering for transformative change.
Mobilise 12,000 African youth to engage in community service and volunteerism aligned with the SDGs
Empower and equip 5000 African Youth by providing tools, capacity-building opportunities and resources necessary to lead SDG action projects in their communities
To recognize, reward, and amplify the contributions of young people towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa
Foster a tri-sector network encompassing youth clusters, development partners, and private and public sector allies collectively driving progress toward SDG financing, policymaking and monitoring
The Youth Day of Service aims to promote and encourage a culture of volunteerism and community service among African youths towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
To inspire, empower and equip a new cadre of African leaders by providing skills and tools for personal, organizational, and community.
To be recognized as the premier resources center for developing dynamic, innovative, and principled leaders, who will drive Africa's realization of its full potential.
The Youth Day of Service 2023 would unite youths from across Africa for community development through active capacity building and ecosystem resourcing in collaboration with varied high-level stakeholders from relevant industries across Africa.
To inspire, empower and equip a new cadre of African leaders by providing skills and tools for personal, organizational, and community.
To be recognized as the premier resources center for developing dynamic, innovative, and principled leaders, who will drive Africa's realization of its full potential.
The Youth Day of Service aims to promote and encourage a culture of volunteerism and community service among African youths towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
