YouSustain creates an exchange between young people between 22 and 30 years from Germany, Italy, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia.
This project aims to empower youth organisations and young people in Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe by enhancing their capacities to address social, economic, and environmental challenges through decolonial and participatory approaches. It seeks to challenge colonial legacies in migration governance, knowledge production, and youth inclusion.
By establishing a robust capacity-building framework and facilitating cross-regional exchanges, the project aims to transform youth organizations into influential advocates for decolonial practices and inclusive governance. In doing so, it contributes to the EU Youth Strategy (2019–2027) and the Youth Mobility for Africa flagship initiative, promoting sustainable pathways for skills development, economic empowerment, and political participation for young people across both continents.
The project’s core activities focus on youth exchanges, creative expression, and advocacy to empower young people and promote decolonial perspectives on migration and social justice as well as relationships among young people in Africa and Europe.
The organisations partnering in this project are: Farafina Institute and Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany), University of Palermo and Centro Diaconale (Italy), Footprints for Change, Clever Minds of Refugees, and Tuboreshe Pamoja (Kenya), Connecting Communities and Associacao Ilha de Mocambique (Mozambique), TCKZone (Nigeria), Health Vision Agency (Uganda), University of Zambia (Zambia), and the Associate Partner University of Uganda.
Building the capacity of youth to address socio-economic and political issues in their communities and collectively on an international level.
Strengthening the capacities of youth-led and youth-serving organizations in terms of youth work, internationalisation, management, knowledge about migration issues, and advocacy to increase their influence and impact.
Facilitating critical dialogue on migration, climate justice, and colonial legacies and international networking between African and European youth and civil society representatives.
Developing innovative decolonial strategies through transformative participatory methods, empowering youth and youth organisations to advocate for systemic change.
Youth Exchanges to Nigeria (in September/October 2026) and Italy (in May/June 2027): Facilitating cross-cultural learning and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing among youth and youth organisations from Africa and Europe. Participants will explore themes of migration, identity, and decolonization through workshops, discussions, and field visits, enhancing intercultural competencies and leadership skills.
Theatre Plays and Advocacy Actions: Using Future-Creating Workshops, young people will envision solutions to challenges like youth unemployment and social inclusion. The workshops will lead to theatre productions and action plans that serve as advocacy tools, highlighting the impact of colonial legacies on migration and youth exclusion.
Photo Exhibitions through PhotoVoice: Empowering youth to document their realities through photography, capturing stories of migration, resilience, and community action. These exhibitions will provide a visual narrative that challenges stereotypes and fosters empathy.
Theatre Production and Documentary: A theatre performance on migration, decolonization, and youth empowerment, with an accompanying documentary capturing the creative process.
Picture Documentation: A collection of photographic stories showcasing youth perspectives on migration and social justice.
Working Papers: Analytical papers with insights into youth work practices, migration governance, and policy recommendations.
Toolkit on migration and decolonial youth work: The toolkit will guide youth workers in addressing migration issues and applying decolonial approaches with young people.
Expectations from participants:
Motivation and interest in the program and its objectives and goals,
Active participation in all stages of the program, incl. both exchange visits. It is expected that participants remain in the project throughout its whole duration (from acceptance into the programme until January 2028). Active participation and availability during this time is expected,
Commitment to contribute to the project activities and its outputs. For student participants from partnering universities, contributions may include involvement in working papers, development of toolkits, and/or the elaboration of an MA thesis based on project participation.
Ensuring that travel documents (e.g. passport, visa, insurance) and any other travel requirements are in place in due time,
Open-mindedness and respectfulness towards all participants and associates of the program,
Compliance with the rules of the program in accordance with the Code of Conduct,
Possibly any previous social engagement, but not a ‘must’,
Good command of English,
Skills in Fundraising, Social Media, Content Creation, and academic text writing are also welcome.
Acceptance into the program includes:
Flights for both exchange visits,
Accommodation during the period of the exchange visit (hostel, shared room accommodation),
In-country travel during the exchange visit for trips arranged for the whole group (individual travels of participants are not included unless priorly agreed with the coordinator),
Food and drinks during joint activities with the group during the exchange visits (individual meals of participants are not included, participants have to cover some meals themselves while not with the group or while on excursions).
Costs to be covered by participants:
390 € participation fee,
Food, drinks and travel for activities that are not part of the formal program,
Local SIM cards,
Visa and health insurance costs.
Young people between 22 and 30 years
Based In Nigeria
Willingness to participate in all program activities and both international exchanges.
Youths in Nigeria should send a letter of motivation (with reference to the project goals and with a confirmation of availability for the above indicated dates of the exchange visits) and a CV to this email:
by 20 February 2026.
For any questions, you may contact Dami Ojo (dami@tckzone.com)
Coordinator:
The Creative Kids Zone Initiative
Contact: dami@tckzone.com
Website: https://tckzone.org
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