Across Africa, young people are shaping change with steady hands and hopeful hearts, rooted in the places and communities that raised them. Yet many still search for the kinds of spaces that let them stretch, be seen, learn from one another, and turn their visions into action.
At the GLF Africa Community & Action Assembly 2025 in Nairobi (Kenya), Leonard Iyamuremye from Rwanda found such a space : a gathering where youth potential wasn’t just acknowledged, but trusted. Here, he discovered conversations that opened doors, connections that felt like home, and quiet sparks of inspiration that stayed with him long after. His reflections remind us that nurturing youth spaces is not optional but it is the foundation for a just, regenerative future already being built by the hands of young Africans.
The GLF Africa Community & Action Assembly 2025was held in Nairobi, Kenya. (Credit: Leonard Iyamuremye)
For Leonard, a representative of Youth4Nature at the GLF Africa Community & Action Assembly 2025 in Nairobi, true leadership begins with humility, deep listening and collaboration rooted in community. “My visit to the Lari landscape and learning from KENVO’s long-standing work showed me how local partnerships and consistent efforts are already transforming land and lives,” he reflected.
The Africa Landscape Leadership Camp (LLC) was held in Nairobi, Kenya, to re-imagine and root the future landscapes of Africa in the visions, knowledge and needs of African youth. (Credit: Leonard Iyamuremye)
At the GLF Africa 2025 Hybrid Conference, Leonard highlighted the importance of youth having space to participate, challenge and co-create. “We were not just observers, we were contributors,” he said. Through the conference, he emphasized the need to rethink economic systems across the continent. “We must build economies that restore, not deplete,” he shared. “The future of Africa lies in thriving landscapes, Indigenous knowledge and community-based action.”
The conference is an annual global event discussing how Africa can build a thriving nature economy that addresses land degradation, biodiversity loss and the climate crisis to ensure healthy ecosystems for future generations.
Leonard represents Youth4Nature at the GLF Africa Hybrid Conference 2025 on June 19 in Nairobi, Kenya. (Credit: Leonard Iyamuremye)
Leonard’s reflection echoes the vision of youth-led organizations such as Youth4Nature, EcoRestoration Alliance and We4Climate: true change comes from advancing community-centered restoration across Africa and beyond.
Share your thoughts with us