Launching EmpowerGen Africa
Why we’re starting in Ottawa, our mission for youth civic storytelling, and what we’re building first.
EmpowerGen Africa (EGA) is a youth-led nonprofit initiative built to help young Africans participate in civic life with confidence and creativity — through stories, dialogue, and practical skills.
Meet the founding administration team
Before launching our first programs, we want our community to meet the people helping build EGA’s foundation. Each founder brings a role, a responsibility, and a commitment to youth, culture, and civic action.
We’re launching from Ottawa — connected across communities
We’re starting in Ottawa because that’s where our early community, student networks, and collaborators are active. But our mission goes beyond one city: we’re building programs that stay connected to communities across Africa and the diaspora through partnerships, media, and youth-led initiatives.
Why EGA exists
Across many communities, young people care deeply about their future — but participation can feel complex, distant, or inaccessible. At the same time, misinformation spreads fast and opportunities to build real civic skills are uneven.
- Civic topics often feel complex or “not for us”
- Misinformation spreads faster than trusted information
- Youth have ideas but lack tools, support, or networks to act
EGA exists to close that gap by making civic participation more human, cultural, and practical. Civic learning shouldn’t feel like homework — it should feel like a story you recognize, a conversation you want to join, and a project you can actually build.
What we’re building first
Our launch year starts with three concrete pillars that connect youth, culture, democracy, and civic skills.
- Stories on screen: youth co-create short films, then host screenings that spark dialogue and action.
- Voices in audio: a youth podcast that turns civic topics into real, practical conversations.
- Skills & community: workshops in media literacy, fact-checking, facilitation, and project collaboration.
The team behind the launch
How to support
You can volunteer, partner with us, share our work with your community, or support the pilot as we prepare our first programs.