INTRODUCTION
When looking at Africa’s future, experts often cite the continent’s large, growing young population as an asset. Half of the continent is under the age of 20 and all 10 of the world youngest countries are in Africa. These statistics represent a powerful workforce for the next several decades. Similarly, the “demographic dividend” suggests a pool of future leaders, from local communities to national level and even regionally.So, this very unique programme is based on the conviction that the African youth are a driving force for positive social change and should receive adequate support to enrich their action.

AU Watch’s ‘Agenda 2063 Program for African Students’ (APAS) is Africa’s leading academic enhancement and leadership development programfor African secondary school students planning to pursue tertiary education and who wish to make a meaningful contribution and impact in the continent. It is a three-week ‘summer’ programme inspired by the African Union’s Agenda 2063 Programme especially the need for ‘Africa to develop its own long-term strategy to regain its own destiny’, with Africa’s youth at the helm.

The October 2020 Summer School programme brings together African youths between the ages of 13 – 19, from around Africa to address pressing regional challenges within the context of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 Programme. It seeks to empower outstanding and very committed secondary school students in Africa through a three-week rigorous academic and practical coursework on the African Union, African sub-regional organisations, African leadership training and networking.

This unique educational experience for young regional leaders is designed to strengthen their knowledge and skills, about their (sub) regional organisations and their role in it, empowering them to be more effectively involved in building peaceful societies and collaborating across differences, through an increased network spanning the region.

The programme is done through workshops, seminars, lectures, roundtables, media activities and collaborative work. A key strategic objective of APAS is for the programme to be held alongside a major meeting of the African Union or one of its sub-regional bodies.Our young Fellows will,therefore, be able to physically participate in the activities of that body.

In 2020, APAS has opportunities for 200 promising young leadersfrom Sub-Saharan Africa to hone their skills at The University of The Gambia and at the 68th Ordinary Session of the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights, with support for professional development after they return home.

Our Vision
APAS is a unique academic, practical and leadership program for young African students at the University of The Gambia and in many universities across Africa. It is founded on the shared values of an Africa that seeks to assimilate and reflect those norms, principles and practices that have been developed or acquired, and which provide the basis for collective actions and solutions in addressing the political, economic and social challenges that impede Africa’s integration and development.

APAS envisions a time when those shared values are integrated through peace and security, social justice, human rights, good governance, regional integration, development and institutional building activities.

Our Mission
APAS seeks to inspire and empower the next generation of young African leaders connected by the continent’s normative shared values framework,especially its Agenda 2063 programme and the African Governance Architecture,by building a dynamic regional community of informed leaders who are actively participating in all the decision-making processes and affairs of the continent.

Objectives
• Our purpose is to work with some of Africa’s most outstanding and promising young high school students to deliver excellent leadership across the region, which in turn will have a direct impact on governance and development in fulfilment of the AU’ Agenda 2063 Programme. AU Watch’s APAS programme seeks to shape regional and industry agendas.

• By designing practical interdisciplinary programs that foster intellectual curiosity, deepening regional understanding, and inspiring creative action across all areas the AU works on, APAS seek to empower the next generation of African leaders by building a regional community of young, knowledgeable and passionate Africans intending to move Africa to its ultimate destiny of being the greatest continent in the world.