Uprooting Poverty Initiative

Proud to be part of the global movement! At Uprooting Poverty Initiative, we believe young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are creating change today. Together, let's continue investing in youth-led solutions that build stronger and more resilient communities.

Ethiopian Youth Leading the Way for Peace and Justice

What an incredible journey it has been!

Over the past year, through the AU-EU Youth Lab , we have traveled across Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, and Addis Ababa, engaging with young people who are passionate about shaping a better future for Ethiopia.

Along the way, we met youth who are concerned about their communities, committed to peace, and determined to contribute to positive change. We listened to their stories, learned from their experiences, and created platforms where they could openly discuss important national issues and share their ideas with policymakers and stakeholders.

One thing became very clear: Ethiopian youth are not waiting for change they are leading it. They are bold, articulate, innovative, and deeply committed to building a peaceful, just, and prosperous Ethiopia.

We are sincerely grateful to Oxfam Novib, Restless Development Uganda, Restless Development, AU-EU Youth Lab, and all our regional partners who walked this journey with us. Your support, trust, and encouragement made this work possible.

Most importantly, we thank the young people across Ethiopia who shared their voices, hopes, concerns, and visions for the future. You inspire us every day.

As we celebrate the progress made over the past year, we are reminded that this is not the end of the journey. In many ways, it is only the beginning. The work of strengthening youth participation, promoting transitional justice, fostering dialogue, and building lasting peace continues.

Together, we will keep creating spaces where young people can lead, influence decisions, and contribute to a stronger and more united Ethiopia.

🙏 Thank you for believing in the power of youth.

🚀 The journey continues. The work is just starting.



Restless Development Uganda
Restless Development
Uprooting Poverty Initiative
Oxfam Novib

📢 – Truth: The Foundation of Healing and Justice

Every journey toward justice begins with the truth.

When communities acknowledge past harms and create space for honest conversations, healing becomes possible. Truth helps us understand our history, learn from it, and build a future where injustice is less likely to happen again.

🌟 Why is truth important?
✔️ It acknowledges past pain and supports healing.
✔️ It creates a stronger foundation for peace.
✔️ It helps ensure history does not repeat itself.

Young people have a powerful role to play in promoting truth, dialogue, and reconciliation. Together, we can shape a more peaceful and just Africa.

💬 What does "truth" mean to you in the context of justice and peacebuilding? Share your thoughts below.

AU-EU Youth Lab
Restless Development Uganda
Restless Development
Oxfam Novib
Uprooting Poverty Initiative

📢 – Truth: The Foundation of Healing and Justice

Every journey toward justice begins with the truth.

When communities acknowledge past harms and create space for honest conversations, healing becomes possible. Truth helps us understand our history, learn from it, and build a future where injustice is less likely to happen again.

🌟 Why is truth important?
✔️ It acknowledges past pain and supports healing.
✔️ It creates a stronger foundation for peace.
✔️ It helps ensure history does not repeat itself.

Young people have a powerful role to play in promoting truth, dialogue, and reconciliation. Together, we can shape a more peaceful and just Africa.

💬 What does "truth" mean to you in the context of justice and peacebuilding? Share your thoughts below.

AU-EU Youth Lab
Restless Development Uganda
Oxfam Novib
Restless Development
Uprooting Poverty Initiative

WAIT… What is Transitional Justice, and why should youth lead it?

Transitional Justice is more than a legal concept. It is about helping societies heal from past injustices and build a peaceful future through four key pillars:

1️⃣ Truth – uncovering what happened
2️⃣ Justice – ensuring accountability
3️⃣ Reparations – restoring dignity to victims and communities
4️⃣ Reform – transforming systems to prevent future harm

Young people are not just the future; they are today’s changemakers. Across Africa, youth have the energy, innovation, and commitment needed to build justice, peace, and sustainable development. 🙌🏾

💬 Let’s hear from you:
Which of the 4 pillars do you think is MOST important for lasting peace in Africa — and why?

👇 Comment below with:
TRUTH | JUSTICE | REPARATIONS | REFORM

Uprooting Poverty Initiative
Restless Development Uganda
Restless Development
AU-EU Youth Lab
Oxfam Novib

The future belongs to young people, and so does the responsibility to shape justice and healing in our communities. 🌍✨

Through truth, memory, accountability, and action, we can build a future where past trauma does not define the next generation.

Uprooting Poverty Initiative
Restless Development Uganda
Restless Development
AU-EU Youth Lab
Oxfam Novib

Last month, Uprooting Poverty Initiative had the privilege of taking part in the AU-EU Youth Voices Lab - Power of the Collective Accountability Workshop in Addis Ababa, bringing together young leaders from Africa, Europe, and the diaspora to strengthen youth engagement in the Africa–Europe partnership.
Young people are often invited to participate in policy conversations. This time, we went a step further, helping design how commitments will be tracked, monitored, and held accountable.
Over two days of dialogue, collaboration, and learning, youth leaders worked together to:

·Co-develop a Youth-Led Advocacy and Accountability Roadmap (2026–2027) to track AU–EU commitments
· Map youth priorities against key frameworks such as African Union Agenda 2063, African Youth Charter, the AU–EU Joint Vision 2030, and the EU Youth Action Plan
· Identify practical entry points for youth engagement in AU–EU policy processes
· Strengthen cross-regional collaboration among youth leaders, civil society organizations, and policymakers

Beyond the deliverables, the most powerful outcome was the trust and connections built across continents. Young leaders from diverse movements and sectors shared experiences, challenged assumptions, and collectively shaped solutions for meaningful youth participation.

For us at Uprooting Poverty Initiative, this gathering reaffirmed an important truth: young people are not only stakeholders in governance processes. We are partners in accountability and implementation.

We look forward to supporting the next phase as youth continue advancing the accountability roadmap and engaging institutions across the AU–EU partnership.

The work continues. 🚀

Oxfam
Restless Development
AU-EU Youth Voices Lab - Power of the Collective
AU-EU Youth Lab

Happy New Year!

We’re delighted to share the latest edition of the Uprooting Poverty Initiative Newsletter. As we step into the new year, we reflect on the impact achieved through partnership, resilience, and shared commitment to dignity and sustainable change. This edition highlights key milestones, stories of transformation, and the collective efforts driving our mission forward. Thank you for walking with us on this journey to uproot poverty and build hope.

use below link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hUQn6WNMkTsgStIdwOzk-eXV096wds_F/view?…

or

https://www.canva.com/design/DAG9TvR4z8A/ZhjaSz5wY9iCBcOYETwcFA/view utm_content=DAG9TvR4z8A&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hdc0fcc6b1a

a