João Kanda Bernardo, born on April 3, 1990, in Luanda, holds degrees in African Studies from Leipzig University and in Political Science, Public Administration, and Sociology from Fern Universität in Hagen, Germany. He is an alumnus of the Transparency International School on Integrity at Mykolas Romeris University. Bernardo is a former United Nations Fellow for Human Rights at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. Since September 2019, he has been an Ambassador for Peace with the Universal Peace Federation.
In September 2022, he became a Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Angola, representing the UNITA Parliamentary Group, Secretary of the Commission on Human Rights, Petitions, Complaints and Suggestions of Citizens of the Angolan Parliament, and Secretary of the National Monitoring Group of the National Parliament for International Organizations: United Nations and its specialised agencies, Interpol, World Bank, IMF, G20, BRICS, RIO+, BEIJING+ and MERCOSUR. João is the founder and President of the Humanitarian Organization Kanda-Initiative in Angola.
In addition, he is also a Secretary of the Presidency of the UNITA Party (main Opposition Party in Angola) for Multilateral Organisations and Peace and Security Policies and a member of the National Committee of the UNITA Youth Organisation.
On Youth Political Participation
“Many young people possess the motivation to engage in political life but often lack the opportunities to do so. This presents the initial challenge we must address.” “As young people, we can’t simply wait for others to take action on our behalf. If we desire change in our countries, it’s up to us to actively participate and make our voices heard.”
The WYDE Civic Engagement Network of Young Decision-Makers unites young leaders under 36 years old who are active in politics and decision-making roles, aiming to enhance youth political participation. Members, hailing from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, will collaborate with peers and Club de Madrid Members to shape global agendas through Policy Labs, fostering informed collective action.
The WYDE Civic Engagement project is a component of the Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE) by the European Commission. The project aims to empower youth voices, foster international cooperation, and address the gaps in evidence on youth political engagement. More info on the project can be found on EPD’s website.