Activity 02 — BI-WÔRI Leadership Academy

Training the young people who will move their villages forward

A region changes when people commit to it. The Academy identifies, trains and supports young village ambassadors who can mobilise their communities, engage with institutions and lead useful projects.

1ambassador per participating village
Guiding principle

[target]young people trained in 2026
Target

4training modules

12months of commitment after the festival
Proposal

Why an academy

Local leadership, the missing link in development

Development programmes often struggle to reach villages for lack of credible people on the ground. Meanwhile, many young people want to act but lack the tools — and the recognised legitimacy — to do so.

The Academy bridges that gap. It gives young people chosen with their communities the skills to become trusted go-betweens — linking their village, the festival and partners.

Skills

Public speaking, group facilitation, project design, conflict resolution.

Legitimacy

An ambassador status recognised by the festival and presented to local authorities.

A network

Peers in other villages and priority access to the BI-WÔRI Youth Network.

A mission

A concrete community project to lead in their village after the training.

Training programme

Four modules to turn motivation into action

Proposed curriculum, to be finalised with the trainers.

MODULE 1

Know yourself, stand tall

Personal leadership, self-confidence, ethics and leading by example.

MODULE 2

Communicate and persuade

Public speaking, building an argument, responsible use of social media.

MODULE 3

Mobilise your community

Engaging traditional leaders and elders, running meetings, mediation.

MODULE 4

Lead a project

From needs assessment to action plan, simple budgeting and reporting.

Who we are looking for

Who can become an ambassador?

A young person from or living in a Gontougo village
Age: [range to be confirmed by the committee]
Motivated to volunteer for their community
Available for the training and year-long follow-up
Ideally nominated or supported by their village

Gender balance: the committee aims for a balance between young women and young men among selected ambassadors.

Pathway

From application to commitment

Step 1

Application

Online form or submission through your village’s contact person.

Step 2

Selection

Review of applications and interviews with shortlisted candidates.

Step 3

Training at the festival

Intensive sessions on 21 November 2026, followed by the ambassador title ceremony.

Step 4

Mission and follow-up

A community project in the village, supported and presented at the next edition.

“

“We are not training bosses; we are training people who serve their communities. A good ambassador is someone their village listens to because they listen to the village first.”

Academy programme lead

Draft quote — awaiting approval from the person concerned

Questions about the Academy

Is there a fee for the training?

No. The Academy is free for selected young people. It is funded by the festival's partners.

Do I need a diploma?

No. Motivation, commitment and community roots matter more than academic level.

What happens after the festival?

Each ambassador leads a project in their village, receives follow-up support and presents their results at the next edition.

Can an organisation fund the Academy?

Yes, as a "dedicated operational partner". The partner receives the Academy's indicator report. Learn more.

The Festival

Programme

Get Involved

Partners