Leadership deserves to be seen
Every year since 2023, the CAYO Award has honoured young people in Somali Regional State for leadership, commitment and social impact. In 2025, a new group of winners received it.
Young people already lead in Somali Regional State. The CAYO Award makes sure their communities see it.
CAYO Award · presented every year since 2023
CAYO established the award in 2023, the year young women and men from different sectors founded the organization in Jigjiga. It has been presented every year since, and it is one of CAYO’s 6 flagship initiatives.
The award recognizes young people for exceptional leadership, commitment and social impact. It puts their work in front of their peers, their families and the institutions around them, and makes it an example that others can follow.
The CAYO Awards 2025 continued that record. Two of the 2025 winners are pictured here with their plaques.
Recognition is one part of how CAYO builds leaders. It sits alongside the Peace Ambassadors Fellowship, which builds leadership, dialogue and conflict-prevention skills, and the Fursadaha Dhalinyarada network of 13,000+ young people, where opportunities and mentorship are shared.
Named only with consent. We do not name the 2025 winners on this page. CAYO publishes a person’s name and story only with their consent.
At a glance
- Initiative
- CAYO Award
- Presented
- Every year since 2023
- Recognizes
- Leadership, commitment and social impact
- Who
- Young people in Somali Regional State
Programme
Leadership fellowships, woreda youth councils, women’s dialogue circles and recognition for young leaders.
From recognition to leadership.
Hiigsi Leaders brings together leadership fellowships, woreda youth councils, women’s dialogue circles and recognition such as the CAYO Award.
More stories.
All stories
Local organizations, built to last
A capacity-building training for emerging civil society organizations, with CSRC and AFD.
Peace is a skill, and it can be learned
The Peace Ambassadors Fellowship, run by CAYO with U-Report Ethiopia.
Let’s normalize volunteerism
400+ active volunteers in Jigjiga, and a campaign to make service normal.