About Us
Who We Are
The Young Adults Development Network (YDN) is a youth-led organization committed to empowering young people—especially from underrepresented communities—to become ethical leaders, social innovators, and changemakers. We focus on building leadership capacity, driving advocacy, and delivering education-based solutions to help youth shape more just, peaceful, and resilient communities.
YDN was founded in 2025 after a powerful encounter between two passionate youth leaders, Fiston Mututsi and Serge Kagabo, during FCNL’s Spring Lobby Weekend in Washington, D.C. What started as a conversation became a movement—anchored in the shared vision of equipping young adults with the tools, mentorship, and platforms they need to make a difference.
Today, YDN is a growing network with a team of over 30 young leaders and rising changemakers, leading programs across multiple sectors including leadership, peacebuilding, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, health, digital skills, and cultural preservation.
Our Mission
To empower young adults through education, advocacy, and community engagement—fostering leadership skills and promoting social justice to create positive change within communities.
Our Vision
A society where every young adult has the opportunity and support to become an active leader in driving inclusive development, peace, and equity—locally and globally.
Our Core Beliefs
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Youth are not just the future—they are the present. -
Every voice matters, especially those from underserved communities. -
Leadership is a skill that can be taught, nurtured, and lived. -
Sustainable change begins with empowered people.
Our Founders’ Story
When Fiston Mututsi, a passionate community organizer, shared his dream of equipping youth with practical skills, he lacked the resources to do it alone. Meanwhile, Serge Kagabo had been working closely with hundreds of Banyamulenge youth and saw the need for a structured platform to scale their impact. Their meeting in D.C. sparked a movement that would become YDN—a community by youth, for youth, and for the world.
Our Team
YDN is led by a passionate, diverse team of youth professionals, creatives, educators, and strategists who believe in the power of inclusive, community-rooted leadership.
Strategic Objectives
Develop ethical, resilient youth leaders
Promote peacebuilding and reconciliation
Stimulate economic empowerment through entrepreneurship
Strengthen civic participation and good governance
Expand access to digital and vocational skills
Celebrate and preserve cultural identity
We’re here to support poor people
Fundraising for breaking the cycle of poverty and discrimination.
Long-Term Goals
Launch a youth-led model city in Minembwe focused on peace and innovation
Establish a permanent YDN Training Institute
Create a global mentorship network
Implement a scholarship program for future changemakers
Build sustainable youth enterprises that uplift entire communities