Africa Youth Leadership Program

The Africa Youth Leadership Program is aimed at bolstering African high school students’ understanding of civic participation and the functioning of a democratic society as well as impart specific skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and community development. Francophone African secondary students participate in a 3-week exchange program in the Washington DC area three times per year.   By participating in this exchange program, these future leaders are equipped with the tools needed to tackle the socioeconomic challenges they face in their respective countries. This exchange program also encourages mutual understanding between Americans and Francophone Africans by assigning the students and educators to partners, it is sponsored by the Department of State.

The student participants are 15 to 18 years old with a strong academic background and both students and educators have demonstrated leadership skills.  48 students and 12 educators come from Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania and Niger each year. These countries are all on the IMF’s list of the worlds’ least livable countries, except for Mauritania, and they are all also on the IMF’s list of Highly Indebted Countries.  The Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassy in each country recruits, screens and selects 8 students and 2 educators from each country. Two countries participate in each 3-week trip.

For more information on the Africa Youth Leadership Program:

Host a Student in the D.C. Area

Trips and Excursions with the Africa Youth Leadership Program

The Civic Education and Learning Experience

Further questions? We invite you to contact us:

Tel.: 202-625-7402

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2710 Ontario Road NW

Washington, DC 20009