{"id":3840,"date":"2023-11-21T10:43:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/?post_type=storiesprojects&p=3840"},"modified":"2025-11-20T16:58:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:58:52","slug":"empowering-senegals-youth-the-yaakaar-initiative-transforming-lives-in-dakars-suburbs","status":"publish","type":"storiesprojects","link":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/fr\/stories\/empowering-senegals-youth-the-yaakaar-initiative-transforming-lives-in-dakars-suburbs\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Senegal’s Youth: The Yaakaar initiative Transforming Lives in Dakar’s Suburbs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Senegal<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ABSTRACT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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In Dakar, capital of Senegal, around 3 million people live in the suburbs. And, as often in the world, in Senegal the word \u2018suburbs\u2019 is associated with poverty, overpopulation, unemployment, violence, sanitation and urban development problems, but also with \u2018youth\u2019. Indeed, young people live there in large numbers, and – despite the lack of tailored opportunities for awakening, development, learning or work – they are individually and collectively determined to improve their living conditions. They are also capable of showing resilience in the face of  obstacles. These young people often have untapped talents and a willingness to take initiative and serve their communities. But they require guidance, support and assistance with their ambitions and their autonomy. This in turn will allow them to contribute to the development of their communities and the transformation of our society.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ENABLING FACTORS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The success of the \u2018Yaakaar\u2019 project is due to several factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The federation of actors and the capacity building of the project leader<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CJS was born from the desire to federate organisations \u2013 associations and start-ups – working for the empowerment of young people for them to be able to collectively address youth priorities and better influence public policies regarding young people and to carry and implement initiatives for the benefit of Senegalese youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This union of youth organisations (which increased its membership from nine to 18 between 2020-2021) which – although active in the field for several years – had difficulty in making their voices heard by public decision-makers. Strong support, such as that provided by the EU or UNICEF, has enabled the Consortium, as well as its members, to strengthen their technical and organisational capacities, in order to develop and become players seen as essential voices in the youth sector in Senegal.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The integration of decision makers in the governance of the CJS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to strengthen its influence in favour of youth participation, the Senegal Youth Consortium has created a strategic orientation council in its internal governance structure. This council is co-chaired high-level authorities from the public, private and civil sectors and has a mandate for carrying out initiatives in favour of learning, citizen participation and\/or the socio-professional integration of young people in Senegal. Its mission is to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n