Reflections from Youth Leadership Council members Hellena Angella Nagawa, Michael Nabieu & Adibeli Chidinma

In mid-January, we had the privilege of joining Global Fund for Children’s Africa team for a week-long retreat in Kenya. As Youth Leadership Council members, we arrived with questions: How can youth perspectives truly shape regional strategy? What does meaningful participation look like beyond consultation? By the end of the five transformative days, we had answers.

Beyond Virtual Meetings

There’s something powerful about moving from video calls to shared meals, from formal agendas to karaoke nights. The retreat gave us space to truly know the people behind the work; their motivations, their strengths, and the weight of responsibility they carry as a small but mighty team.

“Before the retreat, we all carried assumptions about one another, but after five days together, everything began to make sense. We understood the reasons behind our unique personalities and could better appreciate what each person brings to the team.”

— Chidinma

Building Strategy Together

The retreat wasn’t just about connection; it was about co-creation. We engaged deeply in strategic planning for 2026, from reviewing the grantee perception survey to mapping priority activities across the region.

Michael led a session on integrating climate change into GFC’s continental programming, drawing on his environmental studies background and field experience.

“I learned that I possess the confidence to lead high-level strategic discussions. The experience taught me that I am capable of bridging the gap between youth advocacy and organizational strategy.”

— Michael

Nagawa brought insights from her SRHR work in post-conflict Northern Uganda, emphasizing the importance of grounding regional strategies in lived experiences.

“I shared practical insights on the realities facing adolescents and young people in community settings, advocating for community-led approaches that respond to intersecting challenges like health access and gender inequality.” — Nagawa

What We’re Taking Forward

• Meaningful participation requires action, not just presence.
  We saw how youth perspectives can strengthen impact when young people are active partners in planning, decision making and evaluation, and not just consultees.
• Cross-regional collaboration sparks innovation. The partnership between the Asia and Africa teams on gender masculinity work showed us how shared learning across different contexts can generate powerful solutions.
• Small teams need strategic support. Observing the Africa team’s workload clarified how we, as YLC members, can actively contribute within our capacity rather than simply participating in discussions.

Moving Forward

This retreat reshaped how we see our roles. As Nagawa puts it:

“Being present is not enough. Impact comes from intentional action and contribution.”

We’re committed to working alongside the Africa team to ensure youth expertise isn’t just acknowledged but actively harnessed. Whether it’s supporting climate resilience programming, strengthening safeguarding practices, or amplifying community voices, we are ready to move from consultation to collaboration.

The retreat reminded us that we stand on the shoulders of giants – the GFC Africa team, whose guidance and support made our contributions possible. But it also affirmed that youth voices belong at the table where strategy is shaped, not just in the conversations that follow.