Alumner

“Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow – we are leading today”

Rahma Mwita, PYPA participant 2025, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT), Tanzania

“Through the PYPA program’s training, I have learned that power lies with us young people – not just because we are young, but because of the vision and the dreams we carry for Africa’s future,” says Rahma Mwita, former TV anchor and now active in the ACT party in Tanzania.

During the 2025 training she deepened her knowledge in political campaign strategy, media appearances, gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development. Now she wants to use her new knowledge to shape the society young Tanzanians are asking for. With a population where 60 percent are young, Rahma is convinced that it is precisely young people who have the power to drive change.

“We are not the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders today.”
She dreams of a Tanzania where young people have influence in decision-making, where their competence is valued, and their innovations help solve today’s challenges.

A young voice for change

Silvia Alvarenga, 2022 alumna of the PAOLA program, Patria Querida party, Paraguay

When Silvia Alvarenga lost her final school year due to the pandemic, something sparked inside her. At seventeen, she began organizing activities to help young people enter the job market. This quickly led her straight into politics.
“I wanted to do something concrete for other young people. Soon I found myself in the middle of an election campaign.”

Today she is 22 years old, internationally engaged, a campaign manager, election observer, and a natural voice within Patria Querida’s youth organization. But the road there was not easy. Being young and a woman in Paraguay’s political landscape — marked by sexism and concentrated power — requires both courage and conviction. Silvia describes how, in the broader political context, she sometimes questioned whether her perspectives would be valued equally, and felt she had to make extra efforts for her opinions to receive the same recognition as men’s.

During the PAOLA training program, she met other young people from across Latin America. There, their opinions were valued, and they could share experiences with like-minded peers. She also met participants from dictatorships, where the same kind of political engagement she had could cost them their freedom.
“It was a wake-up call. We must use our freedom.”

Silvia’s commitment is not about being seen, but about helping others grow. She thrives behind the scenes, in diplomatic work. But she does not rule out running for office one day. Until then, she continues creating opportunities for other young people to take space, make decisions, and believe in themselves.
“I’ve learned that I can do anything I set my mind to. It’s hard when you’re young and people don’t believe in you, but I know what I’m doing and today I trust myself.”

“The party is not more important than the people”

Isaac Ojok, ELCA alumnus 2022, municipal politician for the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda

“We need leaders who understand what they’re doing and why,” says Isaac Ojok. He was only 23 when he was elected to the municipal council of Agweng town in Lira district in northern Uganda. As a newly elected official, he knew little about what the role required.
“We didn’t receive any training; we were just thrown into the responsibility.”

The ELCA program became crucial for him. There he learned not only about his duties as an elected representative, but also how to build networks, collaborate across party lines, and serve citizens. He fought against teenage pregnancies and succeeded in securing clean water for villages in the district. Today, Isaac has earned respect even from his political opponents.
“I learned that the party is not more important than the people. After the training, I’ve built friendships with my political opponents. I can do so much more for the people when I work hand in hand with them.”

When enemies became teammates

Sarah Julian Ayesiga, PYPA alumna 2018, National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda

Sarah Julian Ayesiga participated in the PYPA program in 2018. It changed her view of politics. She learned to collaborate across party lines and understand the importance of conflict resolution.
“Before, I saw everyone who did not agree with my party as enemies. But I learned that all of us, regardless of party affiliation, want to see a better Uganda.”

After giving a speech in 2020 as a representative of young people in the Bunyoro region before the president, she was appointed by the president as the government’s representative in Kyenjojo district. In this role she is responsible for security issues and serves as the highest supervisor of all government programs in the district. She ensures that public funds are used correctly and has contributed to resolving hundreds of land disputes.
“90 percent of what I use in my work today I learned through PYPA.”

Sarah is passionate about the participation of young people and women in politics, despite obstacles such as gender norms and sexual harassment.
“We young people are the majority in Africa. If we maintain our integrity, we will lead in the future.”