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YES Akademia (YAKA, www.yesakademia.ong) is a grassroots social-profit organization based in Paris, France. Founded in 2012, YAKA offers educational and cultural exchange programs for youth from a variety of backgrounds, though largely from marginalized urban and rural communities. Our programs vary in length and breadth but all share the goals of developing ideas and projects around social justice, civic engagement, cross-cultural exchange, social entrepreneurship, and leadership while teaching such practical skills as problem-solving, fundraising and communication techniques.

Our programs engage approximately 500 youth yearly and take place in and around Paris and other parts of France, as well as in communities with our partner organisations in such countries as Senegal, India, Haiti, Nicaragua and Tunisia. We constantly seek to build collaborative programs that encourage cultural exchange, share our European background, and develop a better understanding of global issues. With the effects of Covid19, we are planning to initiate focus on replicating and establishing our model in more areas in need in France in addition to re-establishing international travel in our programs when possible.

YAKA’s primary programs are IMPOWER, YAKA Switch and PRESS START. Using primarily non-formal teaching techniques, these programs (making up 100 to 500 hours of training) emphasize openness, experimentation, and testing comfort zones. As a result, our laureates build personal, practical tools to launch entrepreneurial initiatives or advance personal projects with greater confidence, courage and awareness of self and their environment. YAKA alumni may also take part in our special training program, "Bamboost", to become "Youth Leaders" after which they may participate in other YAKA programs in leadership positions and "give back" while gaining on-the-job training in such skills as organising, supervising, and leading projects.

YAKA is funded by private and public donations including Erasmus+ in 2018 and 2019. YAKA holds an Immatriculation Tourisme from the Chambre des Associations. It is also affiliated with the French Foreign Ministry as a recipient in 2017 of the GENE (Global Education Network of Europe) grant in recognition of its innovation in global education in European.

“YES” in YES Akademia stands for youth, empowerment and solidarity – the common principles behind all our activities, shared by all our stakeholders whether student, teacher, staff, mentor, volunteer or donor. We work to empower youth in France and abroad motivate them to continuously cultivate an open spirit and take bold steps to improve their lives and communities. The thread in all our actions connects international solidarity, intercultural dialogue, the power of youth and civil responsibility.

Our programs have touched approximately 3,600 youth to date.

YAKA is aligned with the new Skills Agenda of the European Commission to ensure sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience in youth. As such, existing skills will be enhanced and new competences are added to adapt to changing times. YAKA fosters the development of entrepreneurial and transversal skills in youth as well as life skills. We will be using the new Europass platform to guide youth in writing CV's and other information on job search.