Celebrating Africa Day with PAYLP

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On May 25, also known as Africa Day, Meridian celebrates our annual exchange experience, the Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP). Meridian is pleased to implement the U.S. Department of State’s Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) on behalf of the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Each year, this dynamic youth leadership program engages 150 high school students and adult mentors from over 38 countries in Africa for a three-week U.S.-based cultural exchange and civic engagement training program. When we think of youth, we think of idealism, hopes, and dreams for the future. The Pan Africa Youth...

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PAYLP Alum Reflects on Youth Leadership

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This year, International Youth Day will recognize the meaningful participation of youth innovation for human and planetary health. To celebrate International Youth Day, we are highlighting one of our many inspiring alumni: Celestina Richard Livigha of the Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP). Livigha spoke with Meridian’s Center for Global Leadership to reflect on her youth exchange experience and its impact of her leadership journey. Livigha is from Tanzania and a proud PAYLP alumna from the 2018 April cohort. She recently participated in the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program at the University of Massachusetts in Spring 2021. Livigha...

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PAYLP Alumni Bring Community Momentum to COVID-19 Response in Guinea

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Abigael (right with bookbag) with ADJE members leading a handwashing workshops with community members. Photo credits to AJDE.

The Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program is an exchange program of the U.S. Department of State, implemented by Meridian International Center since 2013. PAYLP Alumni activities are funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended. Meridian is proud to support our young alumni, as we work daily to strengthen engagement between the United States and the world through global leadership and international exchange. Sustaining these networks of young leaders is important now more than ever, as it will require hard work by...

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PAYLP Alumni Share Their Knowledge With Local Communities Back Home

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Our Alumnus Clarence Sarty from the team Liberia who shared their experience in a local radio station in Ganta city Nimba County Liberia.

In August 2018, Meridian welcomed 109 high school students and adult mentors from twenty-three African countries to the U.S. for the Pan Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP), an annual three-week academic and cultural exchange on leadership development and civic engagement. Below is a blog post written by Vanessa Elongo Meridian’s PAYLP Intern who is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an international student at George Mason University studying Integrative Studies with a concentration in International Studies. “It has been almost two months that our PAYLP 2018 Alumni of the summer cohort returned to their home...

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Cultivating talent among African students through Community Action Plans pitches to DC social entrepreneurs

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PAYLP student country group finalists pitch their Community Action Plans

Nearly 100 students from 23 African countries arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer to participate in the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP). Many students were not only traveling outside their respective countries for the first time, but also meeting citizens of neighboring countries for the first time. Participants shared that they were equally intrigued by exposure to the customs and personalities of fellow Africans, along with those of the Texans, Washingtonians, Hoosiers, and other Americans they met during their three-week cultural and educational exchanges across the United States. Upon arrival in Atlanta, students were challenged to assess the greatest...

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