YOUTH : Empowering the Change Leaders of Tomorrow | CYDE Foundation
Why young people are at the centre of our work
Africa has the youngest population in the world, with a median age of around 19. Morocco, too, has a large share of young people looking for training, jobs and a role in public life. They will live with the results of today's energy and climate decisions, and they will fill most of the jobs that the transition creates. The youth pillar exists to build youth climate leadership in Morocco and Africa, starting with skills and a voice in decisions.
Yet access to information, networks and decision makers is uneven. Young people outside big cities, or without family contacts in the right places, find it harder to take part. Our youth pillar tries to reduce that gap.
What the youth pillar does
Skills
Practical training in climate, energy and digital topics, linked to what employers and communities need.
Voice
Chances to speak, organise and present ideas to people who make decisions.
Community
A network of peers, mentors and partner organisations across Morocco and Africa.
The youth programme
Our first concrete step is the youth programme, built in five stages: define objectives, mobilise young people, run and follow up activities, communicate results and evaluate. Dates will be published when we can keep them.
Young people as researchers
Young people do not only take part in activities. They can also help with research: collecting data in their town, reviewing a guide to check that it is clear, or writing about what they see. Our research improves when readers help shape it.
Questions we work on
Which skills do clean energy and digital jobs in Morocco actually require?. What stops young people from taking part in local climate decisions, and what would change that?.
How can schools, universities, associations and companies work together on practical training?.
How to take part
Write to us through the Get Involved page to register your interest, or to propose an activity with your school, university or association. Organisations can also read how we work with partners.
What young people face when they want to take part
Many of the obstacles are practical. A student in a smaller city may live far from the events, universities and employers where climate and energy topics are discussed. Travel costs, limited internet access and the lack of internships make it harder to build experience. Information is also scattered, so a young person who wants to get involved often does not know where to start.
Other obstacles are less visible. Some young people do not feel that their opinion will be taken seriously, or they worry that they need a specialist degree before they can contribute. Part of our job is to say clearly that curiosity, good questions and local knowledge are useful, and that people can learn the technical side as they go.
How we plan to work with young people
We want to listen before we design. The first step for every activity is a conversation with the young people it is meant for, so that topics, schedules and formats fit their lives and not only ours. Groups will be kept small enough for everyone to speak, and experienced volunteers and partner organisations will act as mentors.
We are a new foundation, and we say so. That means we will start with modest activities, write down what works and what does not, and share it openly. A short, well run programme that people finish is worth more than an ambitious one that fades after a few weeks.
Why climate, energy and digital belong together
A young person who understands how a solar installation is financed, how to read a simple dataset and how to explain both to a neighbourhood association has useful skills in several fields at once. The energy transition needs technicians and planners, but it also needs people who can collect data, write clearly and organise a community meeting.
This is why the youth pillar works closely with the other three. Climate topics give the context, the energy pillar gives concrete examples, and the digital pillar gives tools and methods. Young people who join one activity can move to another without starting from zero.
What young people can expect from us
We will explain in advance what an activity involves, how much time it takes, whether it costs anything and what participants will have at the end, for example a finished piece of work, a new contact or a short written reference. We will not promise jobs. We can promise honest information, respectful teamwork and a chance to be heard.
Feedback is part of the design. After each activity we plan to ask participants what worked, publish a short summary and change the next activity accordingly. Young people will also be able to say if they would like to take on more responsibility, such as helping to run a session or mentoring newcomers.
How schools, universities and associations can help
Schools and universities can invite us to run a session, share a room, or introduce us to students who might be interested. Youth associations can bring their own members and experience, and co organise an activity with us. Companies and public bodies can offer site visits, short talks or advice from their staff.
You do not need a large budget or a formal agreement to start. A short message describing your group, the topic you care about and the time available is enough for a first conversation. You can write to us through the Get Involved page.
Common questions about youth climate leadership
What does the Youth pillar do?
It aims to give young people in Morocco and Africa practical skills, a voice in decisions and leadership roles on climate, energy and digital issues.
Is there a youth programme I can join?
The youth programme is the first priority of this pillar. Dates, costs and conditions are not yet published, but you can register your interest.
Can young people contribute to research?
Yes. The page describes roles such as data collection, guide review and writing, shaped with the research team.
Who can propose an activity?
Schools, associations and organisations can contact the foundation through the Get Involved page to discuss an activity.