Written For  youth,
By youth

"A Borderless Africa” is a poetic call to unity that challenges the divisions that separate us. It explores the spiritual and cultural ties that bind us beyond language, nationality, or colonially drawn borders—reminding us that we are first citizens of Earth and that the blood in our veins is the testament to our brotherhood and not the colour of our skin.

This personal article by Jiayuan Tian traces his journey from a small city in southern China to global classrooms, unpacking the barriers many marginalized students face in accessing international education. Through founding OneXplore and the Tilting Futures Chinese Media Center, Jiayuan shares how youth-led initiatives can transform both access and narrative—reimagining education as a tool for equity, expression, and solidarity.

In today’s blog we are uplifting our Yaoundé Hub, based in Cameroon, and woven most notably by Blessing Aghanwing Bisong and Eni Courage Chick.

This blog dives into a session held during the final day of the YxY Festival (Day 3 theme: Showing Up: How do we start/continue to show up in these times?) where we were fortunate enough to host Karn Sun for a session titled: Technology, the Endless Riddle.

This blog dives into a session held on the 25th of January, during our fifth annual Learning Festival (Day 2 theme: Growing Up: Who do we need to become?, where we were lucky enough to host Giovanna Andreotti from Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures (GTDF) for a session exploring the ways modernity has conditioned us and sharing tools to reimagine how we relate to ourselves, others, and the systems we’re entangled with.

This blog dives into a session held during our first official session of our 5th annual Learning Festival (Day 1 theme: Facing our Reality: What do we need to open our eyes to?) where we were lucky enough to have the brilliant Linda Quiquivix join us for a session titled “A Maya Compass for a World in Common”

This poem was co-created during the first day of our annual Learning Festival in a session titled “Holding the pain of our world: Heartful processing through poetry”. During this session we wove together poetry to help us be with the pain of the world, practicing holding each other as we face reality and hear the truths as they are sung into song by so many poets.

Our long-awaited beloved Learning Festival is coming up again for its now-fifth rotation, and we truly cannot wait to convene in community with you all and embark on this learning journey together.

Art! It’s sort of a universal language, is it not? A language that connects us to one another across geographies, ages, and even languages! A language that connects us across languages feels revolutionary so today, we are exploring Artist Activism.

Over the past month, we have been exploring the diversity of activism within the YxY community and understanding the activist archetypes who represent this diversity. Today, for the second last activist archetype blog, we are exploring Care activism. Care activists show up consistently for those who need their care most and create change through the radical act of nurturing, supporting, and sustaining communities.

In our continued exploration of activist archetypes, today we are looking at Spiritual activism! Essentially, Spiritual activists aim to bridge the inwardly focused work of spirituality with the outwardly focused work of activism.

As an organisation accelerating the process by which young people influence, design, and transform their learning experiences and education systems our community is made up of many scholars. So today, in this blog, we are exploring Scholar Activism!

Let’s explore Political Activism! Political activists often work to bring about social change through policy changes and they engage directly with governance systems and power structures to create lasting institutional change…

Explore the power of storyteller activism — how sharing stories can spark change, build connections, and amplify voices for a more just and caring world.

As you grow up in life, you might sometimes look back and reflect on what could have been different if you were taught earlier how to develop your life situation, how to choose your network, degree, career, and most importantly, your values. Perhaps you have followed society's rules without being aware of what truly suits you best. But now, you have evolved, on both personal and professional levels, you're realising that one of your main values, or longings, is making a positive change.‍..

At YouthxYouth, a large part of our work is centred around the concept of glocality (The concept of rooting and collectively addressing local challenges with the support of global knowledge, resources and networks) which means Grassroots activism is intrinsically tied to our changemaking! So let’s explore it!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly!” This mutuality is what drives community organiser activism...

This year’s annual YouthxYouth crowdfunding campaign is centred around raising support to sustain the work we do at YxY by showcasing the diversity of the activism that exists within our community. As part of this, we are releasing a series of blogs that explore 10 different archetypes of activism...

As a young water advocate, Muhammad Alif Dzulfikar is really confused about the kind of political atmosphere he is confronting which then directly implicates his advocacy efforts. Enriched by his academic milestone, he then realised some critical points young advocates should understand about key elements which can power them in championing a variety of issues within the political arena.

This blog provides practical steps for involvement: from raising awareness and educating oneself, to becoming a responsible consumer and advocating for anti-trafficking policies. Remember, every small action matters in the fight against trafficking. Join the movement today and help drive meaningful, lasting change.

In this case study we explore what has been emerging in Kenya throughout this year, how young people have responded and where we are now, honouring the power and agency of young people.

This month we are uplifting our Lagos Hub, based in Nigeria, and woven by Olabisi Idowu, Blessing Obasola, Oladunni Treasure, Adetola Odueke, and Yemi Lawal.‍ The YouthxYouth Lagos Hub is a community empowering young people...

A creative non-fiction essay chronicling the story of my childhood friend and her experience with child marriage, a social evil still prevailing in many countries today.

In this blog, Puneet Singhal shares his journey growing up in the slums of Delhi with multiple disabilities, and how it led him to start a community-based initiative called 'Green Disability,' which works at the intersection of climate change and disability inclusion.

This blog addresses the long-term effects of human trafficking on survivors, such as trauma, housing instability, and stigmatization. It critiques current support systems for being fragmented and inaccessible. The blog calls for reforms in healthcare, legal aid, and housing to better support survivors’ recovery and reintegration into society.

Happy September 2024! This month for our Activist Spotlight we are spotlighting Blessing Obasola (she/her). Blessing is a Nigerian Youth Activist who is a current fellow in our 2024 Weavership cohort and a weaver of our Lagos Glocal Hub.

Social media has a way of bringing everyone from all walks of life together. From newborns to grandma and grandpa’s. Funny videos between family and friends scope the internet daily. For many, social media is a place where we can all come together and share about our lives...

This is the first blog in the 3-part series of The Myosotis Project’s collaboration with Youth x Youth. This blog series uses the Youth x Youth pedagogy of What Is, What If, and What Now, combined with The Myosotis Project’s mission of raising awareness and combating human trafficking. In this first blog, we begin by understanding and making sense of the problem of human trafficking.‍

This month we are spotlighting our Mbita Glocal Hub, woven by Wilson Oding, Felix Bor, Trephia Caroline, Teddy Katono, and Sheila Odhiambo.‍ The YxY Mbita Glocal Hub is a youth-led community of activists focusing on Climate and Nature Education and Women empowerment. It began in 2018 with the aim of increasing forest cover and food production in the dry Nyanza region of Western Kenya...

Explore how young voices are reshaping the landscape of innovation, driving progress and sparking meaningful change.

Collectively, over the past three months, we have observed one of the biggest revolutionary student-led movements to date, witnessing students reclaiming their agency, creating spaces of solidarity on various educational campuses, and demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine...

This piece reflects on the food systems that we use daily, yet rarely pay attention to. After time spent in Spain, the author had her eyes opened to the difficulties in large-scale farming. It is an interwoven problem and here she focuses on waste.

Happy July 2024, precious YouthxYouth community! This month, for our activist spotlight, we are spotlighting Temitope Obasola (she/her). Temitope is a Nigerian Youth Activist who...

This blog explore how the rich tapestry of youth cultural wealth fuels innovation and drives technological advancement in today's diverse society.

This poem was co-created by the YxY 2024 Weavership cohort during their second session, Weaving the Self.

In this blog we are spotlighting YouthxYouth Abeokuta Glocal Hub, woven by Adekunle Stephens and Precious Osemwonta.

This blog is about the importance of youth activism and diverse viewpoints in resolving conflicts. It explores historical disagreements, marginalization, and violence's impact on youth.

In this blog we share concepts and philosophies that deeply inspire us at YouthxYouth, moving us in our ways of being, knowing, and learning. Read more now…

Why gender equality is a human right that should be practiced, implemented and respected in our society.

Discussing the value of engaging youth in the creative process and how to implement this treasured form of collaboration.

Despite cultural divides, a sense of shared humanity unites us. Laughter, tears, and empathy transcend space and time. We are more alike than we are different. This is a call to embrace our interconnectedness and fight for a brighter future for all.

This poem, written by Pooja Sippy, explores a notion of inner child CONNECTIONS "Reparenting Ourselves." Read more now...

This poem embodies the spirit of Ubuntu, an African philosophy emphasizing communal unity, reflecting on the need for a collective effort to weave a fabric of peace and hope in a world marred by racism.

Happy April 2024 beloved YouthxYouth community! This month for our Activist Spotlight we are uplifting a wonderful youth activist within our community, Pearl Oriele Perumal (she/her, South Africa)! Pearl is a graduate from our 2023 Weavership......

This case study explores prefigurative politics in practice, highlighting movements that actively embody and implement it as a means of achieving liberation and justice.

This article stresses the importance of mental health, often ignored, especially in developing countries. It calls for open conversation and overcoming stigma offering tips for self-care and helping others in need.

This poem is a celebration of the creative spirit, personified as "weavers of worlds." It explores the transformative power of dreams and desires, where stories become the fabric of reality. Read more now...

Share the care is a poem calling for climate action and environmental vigilance. It points out that people know how things are happening, causing degradation and also a possible solution but oftentimes, people fail to take action by standing up .....

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This blog was co-created by Learning Planet and YouthxYouth.

For years, our Learning Festivals have been our catalytic convening that ignites our movement. As we gear up for our 4th annual learning festival, let’s take a trip down memory lane and hear from some past participants….

Are you ready to enter a space of boundless sensemaking, radical imagination, & deep inquiry? Get ready to mark your calendars because our 4th annual Learning Festival is here & we are so excited to invite you to be part of it!

Join us in a transformative mission this Giving Tuesday! With your support, we can continue to empower youth globally. Join us on this journey! Donate now!

The 2023 Peace x Relational & Inclusive Education Global Action Circle collaborated in crafting this poem, prompted to express their visions and radical imaginings through a 'What If' question.

Today in our Developing Conscious Activists' Capacities series we will be diving into Prefigurative Politics! What is Prefigurative Politics? How can it be a tool for conscious activism? Lets find out!

This poem, titled An Invitation to Mirror, was written by Ila Malhotra Gregory while traveling home from the YxY 2023 team retreat in Morocco. Read more here...

In this blog, Grace explores ways to prioritize our mental health through a Mental Health and Wellbeing checklist. She covers essential aspects such as mental health assessments, support systems, and self-care practices for promoting wellness.

In this case study we explore Liberatory Learning as an alternative learning practice that liberates and empowers! Read more...

This collage and poem, titled 'a list of dreams for your body and soul,' was crafted by our very own Ecosystem Weaver and Gardner, Ila Malhotra Gregory.

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Ruphin Kungwa, the author of this blog, is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, however, for the past several years, he has called Uganda his home, residing as a refugee in Nakivale Refugee Settlement.

Today in our Developing Conscious Activists' Capacities series we will be diving into Radical Imagination! What is Radical Imagination? Why is it essential? Lets find out!

Today in our Developing Conscious Activists' Capacities series we will be diving into Revolutionary Love! What is Revolutionary Love? Why is it essential? Lets find out!

Let’s unpack why the revolutionary Youth Climate Movement emerged, the significance of the movement, its impact, and what we can learn from it!

In this blog we highlight testimonies from Adult Allies who have participated in our Global Action Circles program to uplift their experiences and to share more about this invaluable role. 

This blog, written by Billie Turner and titled The Queerness of Weeds, The Magic in Noticing, explores the consumption of dandelion/weeds and its relation to collective healing, anticapitalism and the queer community/action.

This blog titled 'From Chaos to Clarity: The Mindfulness Chronicles of Vipassana Retreat' was written by one of our adult allies, Vikram Ghandeeswaran Narayanan. In this blog he explores and shares his experience with the practice of Vipassana.

This case study, written by Eric Tolson, explores Weaving Global Governance from Below: Neighbourocracy and Children’s Parliaments in India. Read more now!

This poem written by Wilson Oding is entitled Heart Desire. It is a story made to strengthen the desire of the heart.

The YouthxYouth Activist Spotlight series is a space to uplift activists within our community! Today we are spotlighting Josh Buenviaje.

As the third cohort of our Global Action Circle program approaches we thought we'd share a few conversations we had with GAC participants from the previous cohort! Read about their experiences, insights, and learning journeys in this blog!

It’s official! The Global Action Circle 2023 applications are open! Find out what the Global Action Circles are, how you might benefit from this program, what a GAC participant can expect, and more!

This poem entitled 'There Was A Time...." was written by Wilson O. in honor of his journey with YxY and to celebrate the third year anniversary of YxY

Inspired by Hers For the Taking: A Poem about Female Empowerment (Arshia Agrawal), Story Spine exercise (Kenn Adams) & Lev Vygotsky’s Zone Of Proximal Development & Scaffolding theory, Pooja has scripted her own life from childhood to adulthood.

The Developing Activist Capacities series takes a deeper look at which capacities we need to be conscious activists. Let's take a look at SENSEMAKING!

The Developing Activist Capacities series takes a deeper look at which capacities we need to be conscious activists. Let's take a look at DIALOGUE!

This powerful poem entitled "the waters" was written by Ila Mahotra Gregory.

This poem was written during our first Community Call of the year, during which we explored the theme, The Power of Stories! Culminating out of insightful conversation, the poem centers learning, storytelling, and intergenerational collaboration.

This article explores South Africa's role in educational reform movements, activism arising from colonial and apartheid education systems, and the obstacles hindering equitable access to education.

This creative writing piece was written by Eliza Reid-Perks, when she was 15 years old, about the overwhelming and intense nature of adolescence.‍

What are the problems of equity and access in our countries, how can we redesign and rethink the system to function better? There are so many possibilities for youth-centered education; let’s explore them together.

This poem narrates the story of a young activist through a conversation with her mother. In this poem, she tells her mother that she could not be the soft, demure girl she was expected to be, as the cruelty of the world outside made her someone else.

This is an extract from an essay written by Zineb Mouyhi titled ‘Why Young People Should Design the Future of Education’ This extract is focused on a vision for a transformed education. Read the full essay in our Library of Resources!

This blog was written by Fiston Muganda within it he discusses the challenges in the education field, highlighting the disparities in access to quality education and the complexity that influences an individual's ability to reach their full potential

A Moment of Reckoning is a poem written by Manish Jain in which he explores his and more broadly our loses as a neocolonial society, he grieves what could have once been, and questions the game we have been so mindlessly playing.