In this conversation, Dr. Stigmata Tenga, the Executive Director of the APN, spoke with John Youhanes, the Executive Director of the Nile Youth Development Action (NYDA) and Policy Mining Officer for the African Union Commission. Their conversation centered on John’s efforts to drive impact and change within his community. This discussion is part of APN’s series highlighting African youth leaders who are creating meaningful progress across the continent. Below is their exchange:
Stigmata: Could you please tell us about yourself and how you became a leader?
John: Back in my university days, the youth network started as an informal platform. We challenged ourselves not to be ordinary young people who only graduate, intending to search for jobs; we wanted to champion change in our nation. It was a question of, “What is our role in society, and what can we do as young people?” Driven by an ultimate desire to create impact, my colleagues and I decided to establish the Nile Youth Development Action with the core objective of helping the youth of South Sudan and East Africa realize their place in society. We became leaders by first realizing our role in this world, our community, and what we could do to make a difference. To amplify our mission, we strengthened partnerships and collaborations with other youth and the government, believing that collective action drives greater impact.
Stigmata: How are you addressing the power structures that perpetuate poverty and marginalization through your work?
John: Poverty is a significant struggle confronting the African continent. However, it depends on how we conceptualize poverty. For instance, a child in a village with no clothes, who eats three times a day and whose parents sustain the family through farming, I do not see this as poverty. It is unfair to label such a family as poor simply because they earn less than $2 a day. Those who control our perception control the conceptualization of reality. This is not to deny marginalization, but we must also appreciate Africa’s endowments and use them to break barriers. As an organization, we advocate for sustainable solutions for youth and future generations. We review continental policies targeting young people and work to restructure them to discard marginalization. Through my role at the African Union, I design programs that empower youth because sustainability cannot exist without their inclusion.
Stigmata: How would you describe the role of African Philanthropy in championing the change you envision?
John: African Philanthropy is the art of giving back to the community. Our forebears invested financial and non-financial resources to build unifying systems. While philanthropy is evolving due to globalization, we must continue raising the voices of generosity. Youth should embrace Ubuntu—the ideal that binds our diverse communities. Initiatives like the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which equips youth with skills, and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, advancing governance philanthropy, prove that Africans are committed to inclusive societies through their investments.
Stigmata: How can African philanthropy practices encourage innovation and youth participation in development?
John: Philanthropy should prioritize lasting change over temporary fixes. For example, grassroots entrepreneurs lack digital skills and capital—philanthropy can bridge this gap. Gender equity is also critical: opportunities must be distributed equitably, and young women should be encouraged to innovate. In my village, women are seen as life-givers, embodying hope. African values are key to achieving the Africa We Want.
Stigmata: How are you ensuring your organization’s resilience and reducing dependence on external support?
John: Overreliance on external funding can derail missions. At NYDA, we prioritize self-financing: members contribute personally to sustain operations. We also plan to launch a business program where trained youth reinvest in the organization’s sustainability.
Stigmata: Please leave us with an inspiring quote.
John: Albert Einstein said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” To young people, I add: Question everything. If told you are “leaders of tomorrow,” ask why—because tomorrow is hours away. Start working now, step by step.
Bio
John Youhanes is the Executive Director of the Nile Youth Development Actions (NYDA), focusing on advancing local socio-economic development in the Nile Basin countries. He is also a Mining Policy Officer at the African Union Commission, working to advance the Africa Mining Vision. He is an alumnus of Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), an entrepreneur, a youth advocate, an author of “The Forgotten Youth of a Nation Book”, a researcher, and a speaker at the World Youth Forum 2019 on African youth employability and the role of civil societies in Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Africa. Co-researcher who produced “It’s our future report”, which aims at “Building better education and work for young people in a post-pandemic world”, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Restless Development organization. Youhanes was a sub-team leader in Masindi District in Western Uganda, as part of the East African Community (EAC) Observers’ Mission to Uganda Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2021.