Global
Interview conducted by Daria Terenzi – Amref
Leyla Said is a young African-American woman born to parents who migrated from Ethiopia to study, with the hope that one day they would return and give back what they had learned to their country of origin. This idea is also important to Leyla, who grew up in the United States and today, through the Kafeta programme supported by Amref, has been able to reconnect with her community of origin.
Ethiopian youth are becoming game changers: empowered to advance their own economic, civic, and social development; resilient in the face of shocks; and actively promoting development within their communities while contributing to the country’s peace and prosperity.
With young people aged 15–29 accounting for 33.8% of the urban population, and another 32.8% below the age of 15, Ethiopia is experiencing a significant youth bulge. Preparing the youth ecosystem to accommodate this growth and harness the demographic dividend is therefore crucial for the country’s socio-economic and political transformation.
Starting with the formation of youth coalitions and networks and the establishment of a youth-led Youth Empowerment Fund, the Kefeta programme works to empower young people to advance their own economic, civic, and social development.