African Youth Development Association

Who we are

The African Youth Development Association (AYDA) is an International registered charity in England and Wales that supports the development of young people including those with special educational needs and their families through education and training.

The association became a company registered by guarantee in September 2007 and a registered International Charity in February 2008 with Board of Trustees appointed to run the organisation.

The charity’s vision is to empower future generations and is commitment to improve the quality of life for young people to fulfill their potential and to make a positive contribution to their communities.

The AYDA Centre currently runs various skills workshops for young people as well as facilitates activities that support young people with learning difficulties through workshops and training. This enables them to gain knowledge and skills in a supportive atmosphere of mutual trust. Thus the charity is committed to working with young people to build their capabilities and to advocate for adequate resource allocation to enable them to fulfil their full potential.

AYDA is a Diaspora organisation planning to build on its work to establish a platform to advocate, support and empower all young people including those with additional needs. With the vision of working towards a sustainable world free of poverty and empowering young people as equal partners in promoting development, the charity remains aware that young people face particular challenges and have distinct needs. Thus the charity is committed to working with young people to build their capabilities and to advocate for adequate  esource allocation to enable young people to fulfil their full potentials.

Lucy Njomo is the Founder and CEO of African Youth Development Association (AYDA), a UK charity that aims to support the development all young people, including those with additional needs and their families, through education and training. She is passionate about improving access to education, supporting diverse learners, and promoting personal and professional development. In December 2017 Lucy was awarded the British Empire Medal by HM Queen Elizabeth II for her work in the community.

The charity is based in the London Borough of Croydon with activities across the capital and beyond, particularly focused on access to vocational training, gender equality and VAWG. Lucy also drives the AYDA Vocational Centre initiative for teenage orphans and vulnerable street youth in her native Cameroon.

Our culture and values

AYDA is a registered charity working for the benefit of all young people including those with additional needs and their families.

We embrace cultural diversity and health issues, focusing on FGM and parental care by raising awareness between ethnic groups to build bridges across communities.

The charity is managed by a board of trustees and our services are delivered by sectional trainers and volunteers.

AYDA provides training opportunities, employment enhancement training, recreational activities and intervention services for all.

We work together with other voluntary organisations, local government departments, statutory authorities and other independent bodies.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Some of our programmes include:

VAWG Grassroots: A programme promoting gender equality through education and awareness, including workshops, training programmes, and public messaging to challenge harmful societal norms and stereotypes. The aim is to build partnerships which enhance the community's overall response to VAWG and to deepen understanding of how cultural health practices affect VAWG.

The Mayor of London's “Skills for Londoners“ initiative: This Community Outreach programme aims to increase participation in adult learning among those who need it most.

AYDA Vocational Centre in Cameroon:  A unique, ground-breaking project for teenage orphans and vulnerable street youth. Land has been acquired, site plan and architectural work done and building construction works have started