Youth Leadership: Building Our Future, Creating Impact Today

DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board (GYLAB) is a vibrant and innovative initiative designed to empower young individuals within the DOT network, enabling them to actively shape the organization’s present and future initiatives.

Catalyzing Change requires addressing the systems that create the challenges in the first place. DOT’s GYLAB made up of youth from the global south leading impact as innovators, entrepreneurs, role models, community leaders, and more are best placed to offer insights and actionable approaches that build the social innovation sector.

In DOT’s session; DOT will launch the newest GYLAB, funded by our newest project funded by the Mastercard Foundation in 4 new countries, will cultivate a pan-African network of young leaders. GYLAB will be featured in a short panel discussion amplifying their voices as individuals. And breakout sessions led by GYLAB members, will facilitate cross-cultural/intergenerational dialogues; focused on critical enablers of the social innovation sector. Post event GYLAB’s first insight report will be developed and shared publicly reflecting the outcomes from the session at large and breakout conversations.

The GYLAB focuses on providing strategic advice and guidance, engaging in collaborative design for impactful outcomes and representing the voices of youth in local communities where DOT operates across Africa, the UK and the Middle East. With a pan-African identity and a global perspective, the GYLAB aims to offer diverse youth perspectives, strategic direction and concrete feedback sourced from local youth experiences, thereby enhancing current and future DOT programs. The ultimate goal is to make a profound impact on the lives of millions of youth worldwide.

DOT firmly believes in the potential of youth and the GYLAB represents one of the innovative approaches employed by DOT to continuously empower young people globally. Through this initiative, DOT strives to not only amplify the voices of youth but also actively support their initiatives by involving them in decision-making processes. Additionally, the GYLAB provides opportunities for young individuals to develop their leadership skills and expand their networks by actively participating in high-level conversations with senior board representatives from the organization.

GYLAB is an innovative initiative dedicated to empowering and mobilizing the next generation of leaders and change-makers. With a mission rooted in fostering youth leadership and driving positive societal change, GYLAB will with no doubt play a pivotal role during the Catalysing Change Week spearheading youth-led and youth focussed conversations around narrative shift/thought leadership by leading conversations around:

Reimagining Leadership: Challenging conventional notions of leadership by emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, collaboration and empathy. GYLAB reshapes the narrative around leadership, inspiring a new generation to lead with purpose and social impact.

Fostering Cross-Cultural Dialogue: GYLAB champions diversity and cross-cultural understanding as essential components of effective youth leadership. Considering the diverse nature and composition with regards to culture and regional representation of GYLAB, the board will spearhead in engaging conversations that celebrate differences and highlight shared values fostering a narrative that embraces global perspectives and unity in diversity.

Amplifying Youth Voices: GYLAB has been on the forefront of placing youth voices at the forefront, elevating the perspectives, ideas and vision of the next generation in shaping the communities and the world for positive change. Through storytelling and innovative campaigns, GYLAB empowers young leaders to contribute to a narrative that reflects their aspirations, concerns and vision for a better impactful word.

GYLAB’s positive impact during Catalysing Change Week will be evident through its efforts to promote sustainable development, social justice and environmental responsibility. Through strategic partnerships and youth-led initiatives, GYLAB commitment to youth leadership and advocacy positions it as a catalyst for positive change during the Catalysing Change Week. By fostering innovation, collaboration and inclusivity, GYLAB stands as a beacon of hope for a more sustainable, youth-led and equitable future.

DOT’s innovative GYLAB has been influencing DOT’s projects for many years. Most recently under a 4-year project in partnership with the Government of Canada, DOT’s GYLAB presented new methodologies to encourage youth-led development, influenced research frameworks, and co-designing new project approaches.

In 2023, DOT’s GYLAB Collaborated to produce a thought leadership piece Nothing about Us, Without Us” Engaging the Voices of Young People this article makes a case for youth participation and meaningful engagement in ways applicable for practitioners, policymakers, and innovators to build up the social innovation sector. This article and the mandate of the GYLAB is an approach that drives positive change through positioning youth who are inherently innovative, creative and resilient as strategic influencers.

Digital Opportunity Trust has participated in Catalyzing Change Week every year since its inception. Our virtual summit team is experienced in hosting small,medium and large scale virtual events – all of which are historically recorded and published on our youtube channel – https://www.youtube.com/@DigitalOpportunityTrust.