In Toliara, 20 young people from YMCA Toliara have taken a new step in their journey of engagement through the S2C – From Subject to Citizen programme, a YMCA Africa leadership programme that aims to empower young people to become responsible, active and engaged leaders within their communities.
Over three days of intensive training, participants developed their leadership skills and strengthened their civic engagement through discussions, practical activities and reflection sessions. The goal was to equip them with the tools they need to better understand their role, take initiatives and contribute to positive change in their communities.
But for these young people, the training is not an end in itself. It marks the beginning of a new journey of engagement.
Following the training, participants are expected to turn their newly acquired skills into concrete action. As future S2C Ambassadors, their next steps will focus on:
- Mobilising other young people and encouraging greater youth participation
- Sharing their knowledge and skills with their peers
- Contributing to the development and revitalisation of their YMCA clubs and communities
This approach reflects the core vision of the S2C programme: equipping young people so that they can take action, share their knowledge and inspire others in return. Previous YMCA Madagascar cohorts have already put their skills into practice by facilitating sessions for other young people and leading initiatives within their clubs.
This is where the transition from “Subject” to “Citizen” truly comes to life: not simply learning how to become a leader, but above all using leadership to serve others and contribute to the well-being of the community.