ARYI Country Representative- Ghana "I believe in one love, unity, peace and harmony. We can all make the world a better place to live in for many centuries to come". - Solomon Amoako-Addo
12 November 2007 In February 2007, AIESEC-Africa and African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI) announced a regional partnership to create, implement, and evaluate HIV/AIDS initiatives across the continent. Today, both organizations are proud to announce a new element to the partnership—the promotion of social entrepreneurship among youth populations in order to generate innovative approaches addressing HIV/AIDS and other development challenges in Africa.
It is acknowledged that great ideas are the backbone of any entrepreneurial activity, but without a culture that supports these ideas, entrepreneurship will never occur. This partnership will expose youth in Africa to tools to promote innovation and provide opportunities to further their ideas to create social change in Africa, especially when combating HIV/AIDS.
“AIESEC-Africa is proud to be working with ARYI toward an Africa free of HIV/AIDS, where both organizations acknowledge and advocate youth contribution as a profound solution to the deadly epidemic HIV/AIDS”, stated the AIESEC Africa Project Coordinator, Gannat Akef.
Working primarily in 14 countries (Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe) the partnership will primarily:
1. Mobilize resources and expand a peer education programme in order to encourage, nurture and network youth and youth organizations in Africa addressing HIV/AIDS and development issues. 2. Promote national and international exchanges on local projects focusing on HIV/AIDS and development. 3. Collaborate on activities of mutual interest, including seminars, projects, virtual platforms and conferences that promote social entrepreneurship, youth development and leadership on social issues.
AIESEC-Africa is the international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential. ARYI is an organization that works with over 400 youth and community organizations on development issues in Africa. "By partnering with AIESEC-Africa, we hope to contribute substantially to the appreciation and more widespread use of social entrepreneurship principles as a vehicle to develop new ideas around development. More so, I think we are paving the way for youth in Africa to be agents of change in their communities and countries" added Neema Mgana, Founder of the youth initiative.
Future plans are to expand the partnership to other countries in Africa. For further information about this partnership, contact Gannat Akef on
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