In March, Liberia joined the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe as an associate member state. Khalifa Losene Dunor is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Dignity and Inclusion (CDI), a youth-led organisation promoting safer and more inclusive environments for children and young people in Liberia.

Having grown up during civil war, Khalifa knows that in fragile contexts, “dignity often begins with small, compassionate acts.” Today, he works alongside marginalised communities to lead environmental and social transformation across the country. He founded CDI five years ago, and the organisation now leads initiatives that promote inclusive education, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment through projects such as Trees of Hope for urban reforestation.

Despite limited funding and access to decision-making spaces, Khalifa’s work took a new turn when he joined the Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue online Course of the Human Rights Education for Youth (HEY) programme, part of iLEGEND III, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, co-funded by both institutions and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

Through the HEY Online Course and later the Training of Tutors during the University on Youth and Development in Mollina (Spain), Khalifa deepened his understanding of human rights education, non-formal learning, and intercultural dialogue.

“The HEY Programme was a turning point,” he says. “It gave me new tools to engage more effectively with communities and policymakers” He also found solidarity among other young activists from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Today, Khalifa applies skills gained through HEY to redesign CDI’s youth training, integrating human rights education, gender inclusion, and intercultural dialogue in line with Council of Europe standards. “Education is not just about learning facts,” Khalifa explains. “It’s about nurturing humanity.”

To secure lasting impact, his organisation advocates for inclusive education policies at the national level. “We are collaborating with civil society partners and government institutions to raise education spending to 20% of the national budget, in line with the UNESCO benchmark, and to allocate 5% of the Ministry of Education’s budget to girls’ education, as set out in the National Policy on Girls’ Education.”

“A society truly grows when dignity and human rights are the foundation of every decision,” he says. “My purpose is to make sure every child and young person feels seen, valued, and empowered to lead.”

Khalifa’s story reflects the broader mission of the iLEGEND III joint programme, which promotes interdisciplinary Global Citizenship Education in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It supports learners in developing individual and collective responses to social, ecological, political, economic, and ethical challenges of common concern. In both formal and non-formal education settings, the programme strengthens the capacities of practitioners and fosters dialogue between state and non-state actors, particularly from the youth sector.