SYPALA 2026: CSOs must give young people power to lead, control resources – WACSI
The Head of Capacity Development at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Charles Kojo Vandyck, has called on civil society organisations (CSOs) to give young people greater decision-making power, including opportunities to serve on boards, design programmes and control resources.
Charles Kojo Vandyck, Head of Capacity Development at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), has urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to empower young people with decision-making authority. Speaking at the Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) 2026, Vandyck stressed the growing influence of youth-led movements in Africa, which are challenging traditional structures.
He noted that many young Africans are opting out of conventional organisational frameworks, desiring flexibility and immediacy in their actions. Vandyck highlighted successful youth-led movements in Ghana and Kenya as evidence that social change can emerge from networks and movements rather than solely from large, formal organisations.
While acknowledging the power of digital mobilisation, he cautioned that sustained change requires institutional support. Vandyck proposed closer collaboration between established CSOs and emerging movements, suggesting that CSOs could provide the necessary institutional backing to sustain youth-led campaigns. He also called for CSOs to move beyond programs aimed solely at young people, advocating for structures that allow young people to truly lead, participate in decision-making, and control resources.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
