Ethiopia—The Youth Leaders League/Leadership & Development Studies (Y2L/LADS) programme continues to record significant growth and measurable impact across Ethiopia, marking an important phase in its national expansion and leadership development efforts.

In a major milestone, the programme has expanded beyond Addis Ababa to Gonder, a historic city in northwestern Ethiopia located approximately 745 kilometres from the capital. The Gonder rollout focuses specifically on high school students, strengthening early leadership formation among youth. Notably, all programme-related expenses in Gonder were fully covered through local resources, reflecting strong community ownership and sustainability.

Progress is also evident in Adama, where the LADS programme is advancing steadily. A second follow-up engagement with sub-city leaders is scheduled for May, reinforcing collaboration with local authorities and ensuring continuity of impact at the municipal level.

A growing network of trained facilitators is further strengthening the programme’s reach. The number of certified Youth Mentors and Teachers has increased steadily, with participants from the initial Y2L/LADS classes now actively delivering sessions in high schools. The programme currently counts 270 active Youth Mentors and Teachers nationwide, significantly enhancing its capacity for mentorship and values-based leadership training.

The programme is also yielding tangible leadership outcomes. To date, 101 young leaders have been certified as Young Leaders of Integrity following completion of the LADS classes. Of these, 25 are based in Addis Ababa and 76 in Adama, demonstrating strong uptake and impact beyond the capital.

Practical community engagement remains a cornerstone of Y2L/LADS. Fourteen Transformation Projects have been initiated by program participants, with six already completed and eight currently underway. These projects demonstrate the application of leadership principles to real-world challenges and directly contribute to community development.

Together, these developments underscore Y2L/LADS as a growing influence in youth leadership rooted in integrity, local ownership, and transformational action across Ethiopia.