Roberta Bojang
Roberta Bojang is a youth advocate of Gambian, German and Senegalese descent. She graduated with a Master of Science in Political Science from the Free University of Brussels, in which she researched the role of women-led civil society in peace-building processes. Prior to that, she graduated with a Bachelors in International Studies from Leiden University, researching Korean development projects in Senegal. Her advocacy mainly focuses on the themes of gender, peace and migration, which allowed her to get elected to the Council of Europes Advisory Council on Youth. Here she works on the portfolios on cooperation with Africa and the Middle East. Most recently, she took part in the establishment of the youth organisation “Union pour la Nouvelle Génération Africaine et Européenne”, that functions as a meeting point between different youth organisations from Europe and Africa to co-develop projects, share expertise and mutual understanding. She further represents youth voices within the Diaspora Advisory Board of IOM Belgium, particularly working on the theme of sustainability and climate and is a UN Disarmament Champion.
Why did you want to be involved in the YAL project as YAB?
I have spent most of my civil society engagement focused on African – European relations. I believe the YAB is an opportunity for me to channel my past experiences into supporting youth on both continents, which is something I feel very passionate about. The YAL project is a great initiative, that showcases a deep commitment to supporting young people on both continents in their mission to deepen relations and I really wanted to be part of this process.
How do you see the future of the AU-EU Labs?
Africa and Europe are both dynamic continents, with passionate young people. I hope to see the lab grow, both in regard to the projects implemented by the young people but also the commitment of all of the organising institutions. We need a continued engagement of meaningful youth initiatives to foster development, exchange and mutual understanding. The Lab can hopefully be a starting point for many new engagements.
