For five days, Nov 8-12, the quiet center of Mariapolis Piero became the meeting point of two journeys: one global, one deeply African. As the United Nations commemorated its 80th anniversary with an international conference in Nairobi, young leaders from 14 African countries: Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Ivory Coast, and Togo gathered at the same place two days before for the Together for a New Africa (T4NA) Summer School, marking the decade Anniversary of the initiative T4NA, the close of a three-year leadership cycle, — and the beginning of something larger.
The two moments were a sign that Africa’s young people are no longer on the margins of global conversations. They are shaping them.
A Meeting of Journeys
Every morning, the voices of youth filled the halls of Mariapolis Piero — a blend of accents, languages, and hopes. Many had followed the T4NA formation since 2022, meeting often online across borders, sharing experiences, mapping local challenges, and experimenting with leadership in their communities. Now, for the first time, a significant number stood together physically.
Others joined from their cities through live connections, forming a continental network of energy. The summer school was a gathering of continuity. “We didn’t come to an end,” said a participant from Tanzania. “We came to understand what we are beginning.”
Learning in a Time of Complexity
The programme unfolded with a deliberate rhythm: mornings of sharings and dialogue; afternoons of workshops and peer learning; evenings of reflection and networking under the Nairobi sky.
The first days were anchored in the theme of Together for New Africa Leadership training: “For a Sustainable Peace in Africa: Our Contribution” for two days, followed by the UN International Conference: Cities, Communities & Care: Youth in Action for Sustaining Peace.
The International Conference
One of the focuses was — “Global and Local Scenarios on Urbanization and Community” — highlighted how Africa’s youth are addressing the challenges of rapid urban growth, inequality, and social fragmentation through creativity, community engagement, and care-driven leadership.
For Together for a New Africa, this participation was more than symbolic. It’s a continuation of a three-year journey of youth formation and leadership, now reaching the global stage. With members from 14 African countries, T4NA represents a movement of young leaders who believe that lasting peace starts with inclusive cities, connected communities, and active citizenship.
In the charter written by young people that will be presented to the UN as a sign of their commitment for peace, young people were inspired by African thinkers and philosophers and stated that “In our shared dream of a peaceful and thriving Africa, we invite young people, citizens, and institutions to envision a borderless Africa that promotes unity, prosperity, and a shared identity across the continent.”
Beyond the Leadership Training
As the closing session of the summer school unfolded—after years of formation, dialogue, and shared effort—the sentiment was unanimous: this is not a graduation. It is a launch.
T4NA’s impact is not measured in certificates, but in the projects, collaborations, and lifelong bonds forged among participants. It is measured in the courage to speak, to act, and to build peace where peace is fragile.
The network that now spans 14 countries is growing into an ecosystem of changemakers. It has reached over 6000 young people through the countries’ initiatives and activities—young Africans who believe that leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility.
And as the 80th anniversary of the United Nations called the world to care, collaborate and imagine peace, these young leaders embodied that message in the most authentic way: by living it.