Young African Aviation Professional Association

The Young African Aviation Professional Association (YAAPA) is a Cameroon-based nonprofit association that helps young Africans understand and enter aviation and aerospace careers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Douala, it connects students and early-career participants with aviation professionals, training providers, employers, and public institutions through school visits, career guidance, mentoring, technical orientation, webinars, forums, and regional events. YAAPA promotes the full range of aeronautical and aerospace professions, new aviation technologies, gender inclusion, and cross-border professional exchange. Its Central African Youth Aviation Week and Career Tour bring aviation education to multiple cities and schools, while its wider work has included an ICAO- and IATA-supported youth aviation forum and formal observer participation at the 2025 ICAO Assembly.