SayPro, in collaboration with the United States Peace Corps, is actively strengthening youth involvement in local civic engagement to ensure young voices shape their communities’ futures. SayPro understands that civic education and participation empower youth to become changemakers and leaders. With Peace Corps volunteers, SayPro conducts workshops that educate youth about local governance, voting rights, and community decision-making. SayPro also organizes youth councils where members discuss local challenges and propose practical solutions to municipal authorities. These initiatives help youth feel a sense of ownership over local issues and build leadership capacity that can be carried into adulthood. SayPro’s work ensures that civic engagement becomes a core part of youth identity.
SayPro encourages inclusive representation in these civic activities, making sure that girls, differently-abled youth, and those from marginalized communities have a seat at the table. With the Peace Corps, SayPro identifies young leaders and mentors them in advocacy, negotiation, and public speaking. SayPro’s mentorship programs ensure continuity, turning youth participants into future mentors. SayPro hosts mock parliaments and simulation exercises to provide hands-on experience with legislative processes. These activities demystify government systems and spark a lifelong interest in civic participation. SayPro believes in nurturing youth as active citizens—not just tomorrow’s leaders, but today’s influencers.
SayPro also supports digital platforms where youth can voice opinions, share petitions, and communicate directly with local representatives. SayPro leverages social media to reach wider audiences and foster digital activism. Peace Corps volunteers assist SayPro in creating youth-led blogs, podcasts, and video campaigns that highlight civic issues from a young person’s perspective. This digital engagement ensures civic participation goes beyond physical spaces and into the online world where many young people feel most comfortable. SayPro recognizes that digital inclusion is critical for sustained civic activism in the modern era.
Looking ahead, SayPro aims to institutionalize youth participation by creating youth seats on local advisory boards and civic committees. SayPro is working with the Peace Corps to draft policy frameworks that formalize youth involvement in municipal decision-making processes. The long-term goal is to ensure that youth civic engagement is not dependent on specific projects but embedded in governance structures. SayPro envisions a future where local councils are co-designed and co-managed by the very youth they serve, ensuring that every voice counts and every young person has a role in shaping their future.