African Youth Development Link (AYDL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan youth-led community development organization based in Kampala district, with the mandate to provide a link between all young people and development policy processes in Uganda so that we are each part of something larger than ourselves. AYDL strives to promote young people's active, responsible and continuing participation in local and global development. We work to create a socially inclusive environment where all young people are engaged, informed and inspired to take on the challenges in their development processes as the route to achieving their ambitions and dreams.
OUR VISION
AYDL envisions: “Making youth involvement in development processes a reality.”
OUR MISSION
We strive to: “Educate and empower young people to the required capacity and moral authority to propel generational change through the human rights perspective to development.”
GOAL:
The overall goal of AYDL is: “To promote and mobilize the young people to proactively participate in development processes together with other similar-minded organizations and stakeholders such as the government, CBOs, FBOs, NGOs and development partners both locally and internationally”.
IDENTITY STATEMENT
Nothing about us without us!
OBJECTIVES
AYDL work is largely informed by the following objectives:
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To work towards offering equal opportunities for all youth to partner with us so as to guide planning and implementation of our work.
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To foster valued and meaningful youth involvement development policy processes on issues like poverty, gender, HIV/AIDS and good governance, among others in line with the overall goal and objectives of the link.
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To contribute to both the voices raised towards poverty eradication and sustainable development through the rights-based approach; and building of a culture of peace and observance of human rights in society.
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To promote public awareness, interest and participation in policy advocacy and poverty eradication campaigns.
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To promote creativity in reflection and collaboration between the young people and adults for sustainable peace and development.
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To undertake research and provide avenues for dissemination of information on human rights, gender, HIV/AIDS, good governance, peace and conflict resolution by holding public meetings, exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, seminars, mobile theatres and production of appropriate materials in the circumstances.
MEMBERSHIP
AYDL is made up of people who are passionate about placing young people at the forefront of development and creating positive change among the youth in Uganda and the world beyond. Our membership is open to all young people who are interested in creating positive change in their communities and the world beyond; adult men and women who value youth involvement in development and are interested in partnering with the youth to make this happen; as well as organizations that are interested in promoting the youth voice and including young in their efforts and/or decision-making.
OUR VALUES
In addition to the common values expected of other CSOs, AYDL espouses the following values:
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Transparency
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Accountability
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Professional integrity
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Gender sensitivity
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Mutual respect.
WHERE WE WORK
We are currently mainly working in the Central region and Karamoja sub-region through our core partnership with Diakonia Sweden (Uganda Country Office). We also maintain our rich network of youth-led Community Development Forums established, in partnership with the International Republican Institute, in different universities spread across the five major regions of Uganda.