Highlighting Changemakers - Aya Chebbi

Briefly introduce yourself

My name is Aya Chebbi. I am from Tunisia and I'm a Pan-African Feminist and serve as the Special Envoy on Youth of the African Union Commission Chairperson H.E Moussa Faki.

Why did you choose to be a community activist?

My activism stems from a desire to change the oppressive practices I saw in my country while growing up, and to advocate for positive. Growing up I was something of a rebel. I saw many things in my immediate environment that greatly troubled me and made me uncomfortable. I was vocal against practices I believed were oppressive especially against women. So speaking up against injustice and making a positive change has always come naturally to me. However, the Tunisian revolution matured this natural rebel spirit. During that time I started a blog challenging the mainstream media, advocating for a peaceful revolution and having my own say in political matters. I eventually moved from amplifying just my own voice to build a movement to amplify thousands of African voices. That's how the Afrika Youth Movement was founded.

In November 2018 I was appointed as the African Union Youth Envoy. My role is to serve as a bridge to bring the African Union closer to young people, and amplify youth voices at the highest levels of decision and policy making. This has further strengthened my work in mobilizing youth for positive change and making sure that youth voices, especially young women are heard and taken seriously. 

What do you believe should be done to change the status quo?

I think we need to bring young people closer to the leadership system and amplify their political voice. Youth should not only be at the table but also in key decision-making positions. In my advocacy as the AU Youth Envoy, I promote what I call Intergenerational Co-Leadership. We have the average age of Africa Leaders at 66 years old and the average age of the population at 25, which leads to at least 40 years of gap in leadership. The political system tends to see youth as a threat, while the young people feel they are not being listened to and their needs are not being met. In my role, I am building dialogue on the importance of intergenerational co-leadership and I particularly support the opportunity in countries of democratic transition like Sudan and Algeria where youth led positive change and revolutions and deserve to take their rightful place in leadership and in society.

Meeting H.EMoussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission

And what have you done so far, since you took on this important role? 

Despite the short term of my mission which is two years I was able during this first year to do a couple of things. First, bring youth closer to the AU, by building a dynamic online engagement to set the tone that this is our man`date as young people to shake things up together. I have created a feedback mechanism through which my office Action Plan was shaped through online and offline consultations engaging thousands of youth.

We followed this up with the Pan-African Youth Forum, which took place in April in Addis Ababa where the chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E.Moussa Faki launched the biggest project on youth 1 Million by 2021 initiative aiming to impact the lives of millions of youth in Employment, Entrepreneurship, Education and Engagement. 

I have also undertaken several advocacy missions to engage our member states and youth in Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Eritrea, Kenya and Morocco and especially South Sudan which was an impactful solidarity mission to the youngest nation in the world to demonstrate support for the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.

I am also thrilled to see the narrative already changing towards intergenerational conversations especially by joining last month the African Women leaders Network and Government of Kenya in organizing the first ever Intergenerational Retreat in Nairobi advocating in particular for the gender agenda and young women leadership. 

I also convened “Back to the Future -Young People Reimagining Today’s Politics Workshop” which will result in a publication on the contribution of youth in governance and potentially the largest exhibition of youth stories at the African Union. 

I have ended the year in Nairobi convening a communication strategy workshop on Silencing the Guns campaign and exciting projects are coming up. 

Any key lessons that you have learnt?

Where you sit when you're old shows where you stood while you were young. While it isn't always easy, I have learnt to take risks and stand up for what I believe in regardless of the challenges I face. Every failure and risk taken is an opportunity to learn and grow to the next level.

With António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations 

What are the main challenges that you encounter?

Being young and female can be a double crime. Many times I am the only young person and the only female in a room. There are many spaces that aim to silence the voice of a young woman. However, I know that my being there is pivotal to getting others like me, young people, women into these rooms where their voices can be heard. This keeps me going.

My final message to young people is, you can be whatever you want to be. There are only two things you need to do: find your identity and live your mission. You need to define who you are and what values you stand for. Wake up every day with the drive to see your mission accomplished. You will face challenges, but do not let that stop you. Take responsibility, get involved and live your life to your full potential.

The key to our future as a continent lies in your hands.

The 2019/2020 Action Plan can be viewed and downloaded here