Aya Chebbi is a multi-award-winning Pan-African feminist. She is the first ever African Union Special Envoy on Youth and the youngest diplomat at the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Cabinet. She rose to prominence as a voice for democracy and shot to global fame as a political blogger during 2010/2011 Tunisia’s Revolution.
She is the founder of multiple platforms such as Afrika Youth Movement (AYM), one of Africa’s largest Pan-African youth-led movements, Afresist, a youth leadership program and multimedia platform documenting youth work in Africa and Youth Programme of Holistic Empowerment Mentoring (Y-PHEM) coaching the next generation to be positive change agents.
Among her list of recognition include, 2019 Inaugural List of 100 Most Influential African Women, 2019 Most Influential People of African Descent in the Politics & Governance, 2018 Apolitical World’s 100 Most Influential Young People in Government and 2016 among 100 Most Influential Young Africans in the World.
Aya has received multiple awards including the 2019 the Gates Foundation Campaign Award, 2018 Young Talent of the year by UNLEASH Festival, 2017 Pan-African Humanitarian Award by Pahawards and 2016 Inspirational Woman of the Year by Women4Africa Awards.
Chebbi’s extensive experience over the past decade has made her an influential leading voice known for rebranding Africa and commitment to youth empowerment, Peace building and Africa’s integration.
We rounded up her 10 most inspiring leadership quotes and 10 cool lifestyle shots. Be inspired!
Background
‘Where I come from shaped my worldview. I come from a small village in the Northwest at the crossroad of Tunisian-Algerian culture, with Arabic tongue, indigenous Amazigh Maghrebian identity, conscious about French colonial legacy which manifests in regional disparities and inequality.’
Rebel
‘I have been a rebel in my family as a woman. Particularly as a woman, I have said no to many things. I have stood up for my choice, for what I want to be, for what I want to wear, for what I want to study.’
Change
‘We complain a lot about the education system and the oppressive culture in the society, these are realities we have to challenge and positively change. Wherever you are and whatever you do, you can be what and who you want to be and I hope my appointment could be that inspirational story because if you look at my journey for the past 30 years I can relate it to many African youth.’
Identity and mission
‘There are only two things you need to do: find your identity and live your mission. You need to know who you are and what you stand for. Once you know your identity, know why you wake up every day and why you do what you do, that’s your mission.’
Pan Africanism
‘Young people should aspire to be pan-Africanists. We have been talking a lot about the ’60s and the liberation movements that inspired us. Now we need to be the pan-Africanists of the 21st century, to lead this continent to where it deserves to be.’
Solidarity
‘Political solidarity manifested in the liberation movements in the face of colonial powers, now our solidarity needs to be in the face of patriarchy because patriarchy thrives in corruption, occupation, capitalism, exploitation and abuse, because there is no pan-Africanism without feminism.’
Defining Pan-Africanism
‘Being a Pan-African means that I live everyday with the obsession that, with African solidarity we can solve all of Africa’s challenges, with the idea that my liberation is your liberation, my access to education, my access to power, my access to resources, my access to the internet is YOUR access.’
Activism
‘I think because any activism should be political. Every single one of us, every young person in Africa, should have a political voice and should be a political activist. Political activism doesn’t mean that you hold a political office.’
Being young and female
‘Where you sit when you’re old shows where you stood in your youth, if you don’t take risks when you’re young, then when would you? being young by definition means radical, curious, free, and adventurous, and being female means nurturing, empathetic, intuitive and radiant. So, to my aspiring young women, imagine how blessed you are to be young and female, every failure means you are going to the next level and every risk is an opportunity for you.’
Self-love
‘I started exercising some healthy habits like; acknowledge failure, focus my energy instead of saying “yes” to support everyone, take breaks when needed, take longer showers with my favorite incense flavors, massage my head, watch no news before bed and when I wake up etc.’
