TaYA (previously Talent Youth Association) was established as a small youth movement with a group of 10 people in 2003. These responsible young individuals wanted to raise awareness on the then HIV pandemic that was taking the lives of many young people at the time. It began with a fierce drive to make a difference, and now it has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians through its work on SRHR, gender equality, policy lobbying and advocacy, and youth empowerment programs.

Starting from pioneering youth-led movements that were previously frowned upon, to highlighting the potential that young people bring to decision-making that affects them and proving that they can be key players in development, TaYA has defied the odds for the past two decades. The restrictive CSO laws and limited spaces for advocacy haven’t held TaYA back from advocating for the rights of young people.

TaYA is now board-led, with representation of young people on its board and in all its decision-making structures. More than 90% of the staff are under the age of 30, and youth volunteers guide the organization’s program implementation through a structure called ECHO - the Ethiopian Youth Council for Higher Opportunities. With this, TaYA implements a youth-adult partnership framework that ensures young voices are heard equally alongside experienced and seasoned adults, which together has a positive impact on society.

Although TaYA is known for defying the odds, the current odds of restricted funding to rights and development work have posed significant challenges. As an example, TaYA lost more than 40 young staff members at the beginning of 2025 due to a funding cut. Its youth empowerment programs had to be downsized, significantly reducing the number of beneficiaries. Most importantly, there is limited insight into what is to come, with new developments emerging all the time. This makes it very difficult for TaYA to implement its strategic plan, which targets to reach 10 million young people by the end of 2030.

With these shifting priorities of donors, many young people will lose access to SRH information and services. The progress made in influencing policies will be reversed, and the anti-rights movement will prevail. This will lead to increased maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, teenage pregnancy, early and unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and so much more.

TaYA refuses to sit with folded hands while the progress that took more than 30 years since ICPD 1994 gets multiplied by 0. Therefore, it has been reflecting inwards and exploring local fundraising modalities and income-generating activities. While striving to sustain previous activities with maximum efficiency, TaYA is also studying organizational financial sustainability and would appreciate support in this regard. TaYA has experience, passion, drive, and most importantly, empowered young people who are well-equipped to defy the odds, with little support, as it has always done.

Learn more about TaYA on their website!