During Tunisia’s Revolution in 2010-2011, Aya Chebbi rose to prominence as a voice for democracy and shot to global fame as a political blogger. Years later, she served as the first-ever African Union Special Envoy on Youth and the youngest diplomat at the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Cabinet (2018–2021).
Over the span of the past decade, she has transformed the youth participation space across Africa and created various online and offline platforms with a holistic focus on youth and women leadership impacting over 1 million young people.
On gender advocacy, Aya has widely mobilized young women, resulting in the groundbreaking political document Africa Young Women Manifesto, and established the first of its kind Nala Feminist Collective bringing together 17 acclaimed African feminists to unite behind Africa’s agenda nationally and globally.
Other initiatives she has led: the award-winning blog Proudly Tunisian; the popular Mentorship Programme Y-PHEM; the Afrika Youth Movement, one of Africa’s largest pan-African youth-led movements; Afresist, a think tank training the next generation of Pan-African peacebuilders; the Youth Silencing the Guns Campaign which has become African Union’s largest youth campaign and main platform on Youth, Peace and Security agenda.
Aya’s extensive experience made her an influential leading voice known for changing the narrative about Africa and the commitment to peacebuilding, gender equality and Africa’s integration. She has played a fundamental role in advancing youth leadership and women empowerment and has organized thousands of young people in non-violent mobilizations and Pan-African activism. Aya has also curated the internationally acclaimed concept of Intergenerational Co-leadership and engaged millions of young people during COVID-19 pandemic.
Aya Chebbi was nominated finalist in the Changemaker category of the 2022 UN SDG Action Awards for being an outstanding individual who has demonstrated that the power is in people’s hands to inspire change. She has been advocating particularly for Goals 5 (Gender Equality), 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).