Who we are
Fostering a deeper understanding of the African Union’s mechanisms
The Youth Model African Union (YMAU) is an initiative that simulates the African Union’s decision-making processes, serving as a catalyst for youth leadership, diplomacy, and continental development.
Through this initiative, African youth are empowered to participate in shaping the future of the continent, gain essential competencies in negotiation, public speaking, debate, collaboration, research, and policy drafting, equipping them to become the next generation of African leaders and changemakers consistent with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the African Youth Charter.
YMAU fosters deeper understanding of the AU mechanisms, governance systems and processes through diplomacy and bridges the gap between African institutions and young people.
The Youth Model African Union (YMAU) is an initiative that simulates the African Union’s decision-making processes, serving as a catalyst for youth leadership, diplomacy, and continental development.
Through this initiative, African youth are empowered to participate in shaping the future of the continent, gain essential competencies in negotiation, public speaking, debate, collaboration, research, and policy drafting, equipping them to become the next generation of African leaders and changemakers consistent with the African Union Agenda 2063 and the African Youth Charter.
YMAU fosters deeper understanding of the AU mechanisms, governance systems and processes through diplomacy and bridges the gap between African institutions and young people.
Youth Model African Union Summit is an immersive simulation of the African Union’s decision-making processes, designed to engage African youth in continental diplomacy, governance, and policymaking. This dynamic platform mirrors the structure and operations of the African Union, offering young leaders a unique opportunity to collaboratively explore and address Africa’s most pressing challenges for African development. Through hands-on diplomatic experiences, participants assume the roles of African Heads of State, foreign ministers, and other key stakeholders, according to the organs to be simulated. They engage in debates, draft resolutions, and negotiate policies on issues ranging from peace and security to economic development, health, education, and climate change.
The Summit not only fosters a deeper understanding of the African Union’s mechanisms and values but also cultivates essential leadership, negotiation, and critical thinking skills among youth. By empowering the next generation of African leaders, the Youth Model African Union Summit contributes meaningfully to building a more informed, active, and united Africa.
- To deepen participants’ understanding of the AU’s structure, organs, Agenda 2063, decision-making processes and 1Million Next Level Campaign.
- To equip African youth with practical experience in diplomacy, negotiation, public speaking, and policymaking through AU-style simulations.
- To engage young people in addressing Africa’s pressing issues such as peace, security, justice, reparations, climate change, and economic development through structured debates and policy formulation.
- To strengthen collaboration among youth across AU member states, building a united front in pursuit of African solutions to African challenges.
- To mobilize youth advocacy and action in support of Agenda 2063, 1Million Next Level Campaign and the AU 2025 theme on justice, peace, and reparations for Africans and people of African descent.
The Youth Model African Union Summit is organized by the Center for Peace Advocacy and Sustainable Development (CEPASD), in collaboration with African, Union, UNDP, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Bahai International Community Organizations, Model African Union Ethiopia, FES Addis Ababa and Ethiopia Youth Dialogue for Peace Association (EYDPA).