Jesuit Refugee Service Initiative Brings Ethiopian Youth Voices into National Peace Dialogue

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) submitted the perspectives and recommendations of 3,118 young people to the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC). These contributions were compiled into a document called the Youth Voices Agenda.

The JRS Peace Artisans Project, implemented with the partner organization Live for Generation (L4G), used university dialogue circles and digital platforms to gather these views. The project brought together young men and women from various ethnic and religious backgrounds to discuss challenges facing the country.

Through its network, L4G also arranged for young representatives from the project to attend a conference organized by the ENDC. L4G Executive Director Yonas Berhanu noted that the inclusion of two young people as note-takers during the process served as a sign of meaningful engagement.