From Seychelles to Addis Ababa: MCDO’s Commitment to Pan‑Africanism and Youth Drug Prevention

Introduction

In June 2025, two MCDO representatives – Mr. Elias Kalayu and Ms. Sara Deguma – took part in the African Union’s “Training of Master Trainers for University‑Based Youth Engagement in Drug Prevention” held in Seychelles. This participation marks a major milestone for our organization.

Alignment with MCDO’s Vision and Mission

MCDO’s vision is “to foster a healthy, drug‑free generation in Ethiopia and Africa.” Our mission is to scale up evidence‑based prevention education within universities and communities. The AU training perfectly aligns with both our vision and mission.

The 2025 Training as a Major Achievement

We consider the 2025 Master Trainers’ Training a major success for MCDO and for Ethiopian youth. Through this training we:

• Exchanged knowledge and experience with representatives from 25 African countries.

• Learned modern, youth‑engagement models (peer‑led, evidence‑based).

• Established working relationships with Colombo Plan DAP and US INL.

Contribution of Elias Kalayu and Sara Deguma

The knowledge and skills our two representatives gained are a tremendous asset:

• Elias Kalayu brings over 15 years of experience with UBAACM and successfully integrated that experience into the continental framework.

• Sara Deguma ’s expertise in youth outreach and training design proved invaluable.

From a Pan‑African Perspective

Pan‑Africanism is the foundational philosophy of the African Union. MCDO supports this mission by connecting Ethiopian youth with their peers across Africa. This training is an excellent example of continental unity and collaborative problem‑solving.

Future Plans

To put the learned knowledge into practice:

1. Within the next six months, we will begin training master trainers in at least five Ethiopian universities.

2. We will align the UBAACM program with AU standards.

3. We will work with other African organizations to create a continental youth network for drug prevention.

Acknowledgements

We extend our deepest gratitude to the African Union (AU), the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (DAP), and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for their support.

MCDO believes that this participation will make a significant contribution to a better tomorrow – not only in Ethiopia but across Africa and the world.

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