Launching Youth Empowerment Clubs in Marist Schools Across Africa
On 27 November 2025, Marist coordinators from across 5 Provinces of Africa came together online for the official kick-off of a bold new initiative: the creation of the first network of 15 Youth Empowerment Clubs (YECs). The meeting marked the start of a regional effort to place children’s rights, participation, and leadership at the heart of Marist education on the continent. Participants of the meeting were Mr. Andrea Rossi, Br. Tiana Michel, Br. Thomas Omari, Br. Jean Claude Bundu, Br. Michael Telewah , Ms Eleonora Gastaldello, Br. Francis Jumbe and Br. Emmanuel Tyokor.
Funded by Misean Cara and running until June 2026, the project is animated and supported by FMSI, together with both the Secretariat of Solidarity – CMI and the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization. It builds on the successful pilot experience in Malawi and looks ahead to a much larger vision: a continental network of 71 Youth Empowerment Clubs in all Marist schools in Africa by 2030.
What Are Youth Empowerment Clubs?
Youth Empowerment Clubs are much more than extracurricular activities. They are child-friendly spaces where children and adolescents between 11 and 16 years old come together to talk about the issues that affect them, learn about their rights and responsibilities, and develop the confidence to express their views. Through the clubs, children:
- Learn about child rights and human rights in accessible, participatory ways
- Build self-confidence and an independent opinion about their role in society
- Are supported to protect themselves and others from abuse, violence, and exploitation
- Practice public speaking, peer-to-peer education, and constructive dialogue Design and lead small projects that respond to needs in their schools and communities
A powerful example already comes from Malawi, where children involved in the pilot YEC contributed directly to the country’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submission at the United Nations — proving that when children are given space, support, and information, they can influence national and international processes. Watch the Malawi pilot here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KT1b-VVdlE
A Regional Project With Local Roots
The current one-year phase of the project (1 October 2025 – 30 June 2026) focuses on establishing 15 Youth Empowerment Clubs in the selected Marist schools from Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Rwanda, DRC, Malawi, Tchad, Cameroon, Ghana.
From the beginning, the initiative has been guided and endorsed by the African Mission Commission (AMC) and the Conference of African Superiors, ensuring that it is rooted in the broader Marist mission in Africa and aligned with continental priorities around education, equality, and child protection.
Listening to Schools: Child Rights at the Centre
Listening to Schools: Child Rights at the Centre
In preparation for the kick-off, a survey was shared with the 15 participating Marist schools: every single school responded — an encouraging sign of commitment and engagement from the outset.
The survey results clearly showed that child rights are seen as a priority theme for the Youth Empowerment Clubs, confirming that YECs are arriving at the right moment: schools recognize that children’s rights, dignity, and participation are at the heart of quality education and community development.
At the same time, the survey underlined an important point discussed during the kick-off meeting: while YECs are designed to be child-led spaces, teachers and headmasters play a crucial role. For empowerment to be transformative, adults in the school community need to understand the power of children’s agency and how they, as educators and leaders, can act as catalysts rather than gatekeepers.
The project therefore includes the training of 45 Marist school staff who will animate and support the clubs, helping to create an enabling environment where children’s voices are welcomed and taken seriously.
From 15 Clubs Today to 71 by 2030
This initial phase will establish:
- 15 Youth Empowerment Clubs
- Around 1,200 children as core club members
- More than 21,000 other young people reached through awareness-raising, campaigns, and peer-to-peer initiatives
Beyond the school walls, joint activities with families and local communities will help build shared commitment around child rights, youth leadership, and access to education. The project sees parents, community leaders, religious leaders, and local authorities as essential partners in making empowerment real in children’s daily lives.
Looking ahead, the ambition is clear: by 2030, the network should grow to 71 Youth Empowerment Clubs across all Marist schools in Africa. These clubs will be able to coordinate campaigns, exchange experiences, and link local action to global advocacy spaces such as the UPR. In doing so, Marist schools will increasingly be recognized not only as places of learning, but as hubs of youth-led social transformation.
Empowerment: Process and Outcome
Throughout the kick-off, one idea repeatedly emerged: empowerment is both a journey and a destination.
- As a process, empowerment is the ongoing change that happens when children are informed, listened to, organized, and supported to take part in decisions that affect them.
- As an outcome, empowerment is visible when children actually experience more control, more security, more learning, and more meaningful participation in their everyday lives — at school, at home, and in their communities.
By placing children at the centre, investing in teachers as allies, and connecting local action to regional and global advocacy, the Youth Empowerment Clubs initiative is helping shape a more just, inclusive, and child-centred future in Africa — one club, one school, and one young voice at a time.
The next project meeting is set for December 22nd 2025.
