The Wolaitta Development Association (WODA) and its partners are implementing the EU-CSF III project entitled, “Building Resilience and Opportunities for Youth” in three selected districts of Wolaitta Zone of SNNPR.

WODA has strengthened a total of 30 Youth-led CSOs and 3 networks of Youth CSOs in Damote Weyde, Damote Gale and Sodo Zuria districts of Wolaitta Zone. The youth CSOs were capacitated on a rightsbased approach for demanding their rights and to be able to advocate for the proper implementation of the National Youth policy. As a result, they have been lobbying duty-bearers to provide for their
entitlements.

WODA organized 18 experience sharing and learning visits for representatives of the successful Youth Association members and Youth Network leaders. A total of 250 (121 males and 129 female) youths, including 20 (8 females and 12 male) persons with disabilities, participated in the exchange visits to show the best youth led service provision practices. Most recently, a visit was organised to one of the model youth centres in Sodo Town, established by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). This centre provides various youth-friendly and communitydriven services to the community in general and to the youth in particular. The exposure and learning gained
from the visit has helped the youth CSO leaders to better understand and adopt technical knowhow in policy dialogue; community serving and volunteerism; peace-building and conflict resolution, as well as being active citizens in their localities. The Youth Led CSO leaders have been inspired by the achievements of the Youth Centre they visited and are motivated to adopt and to cascade similar best practices to their members and their Youth CSO structures.