Eco-Justice Ethiopia Celebrated International Youth Day with Action, Dialogue & Youth-Led Solutions in Adama, Oromia.
This year’s International Youth Day in Adama was more than a celebration; it was a movement.
Over 90 young people (ages 15–30) from schools, youth networks, and community groups came together with high-level officials and partners to take climate action and shape Ethiopia’s future.
We kicked off the morning with tree planting at two sites across Adama city and cleaned up plastic waste along the way.
The program continued with keynote remarks from high-level representatives of the Ministry of Planning and Development, Ethiopia; Eco-Justice Ethiopia; UNICEF Ethiopia; U-Report; the Ethiopian Youth Council; and the Adama Region Administration.
UNICEF U-Report then shared how its platform empowers young voices nationwide, before Siham Ahmed from Eco-Justice Ethiopia delivered an eye-opening session on “The Role of Youth in Ethiopia’s Climate Policy – Focus on NDC 3.0”.
In the afternoon, youth rolled up their sleeves for a Youth Dialogue, drafting priorities for Ethiopia’s next climate commitments. Ideas ranged from funding and innovation spaces to skills development and ensuring marginalized voices are heard. Finally, ending the program with the youth drafting their own ideas for the next steps to be taken by the role of the youth.