Strengthening youth climate leadership across continents
In the first week of February 2026, ALDA actively took part in the Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN) Kick Off meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. Represented by Project Manager Abdelaziz Bouslah alongside youth workers Giulia Sostero and Valeria Fantini, ALDA contributed to workshops, interactive sessions, and discussions designed to empower young people to address climate change.
The program began with participant registration and an interactive icebreaker hosted by Asociación Mundus and The Youth Café. ALDA led sessions for Work Package 5: Communication, Awareness, and Community Building, sharing strategies to strengthen youth engagement and enhance climate awareness at the community level.
Expert Contributions and Policy Dialogue
A highlight of the week was the interactive presentation made by Tess Gitau, Environmental Scientist and Global Co-facilitator for the Women’s Major Group at UNEP, who discussed Environmental Studies and Youth Engagement with a Representative of the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA).
Beyond the workshops, attendees explored Nairobi’s natural and cultural landscape through a guided safari at Nairobi National Park and city tours that showcased sustainable urban development efforts.
Additionally, ALDA had a fruitful meeting with the EU delegation in Nairobi, where it presented its activities in the region, explored future investment opportunities, and expressed its interest in strengthening collaboration and expanding its work in Kenya.
From Dialogue to Action: Building Joint Solutions
Throughout the week, workshops focused on youth perspectives on climate change, mobility opportunities for young people, and practical ways youth workers can drive environmental action in their communities. ALDA’s team contributed insights on project management, digital tools, and community engagement, facilitating knowledge exchange and practical skill-building among participants.
By the end of the YCAN activities, young people from Europe and Africa had collaborated to identify climate challenges, share solutions, and develop plans for joint future actions.
ALDA’s participation underscored the importance of international collaboration in fostering climate-conscious leadership among the next generation.