Celebration of African Youth Day Combined with the International Youth Year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 1-3 Nov. 2010

The decision proclaiming the year starting on August 12th 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual understanding as stipulated in UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64134, was in a bid to generate the attention for Youth participation and Youth development at local, national and global levels. The resolution also invites Member states, international and where appropriate, regional organizations including the African Union Commission to support all activities related to the Year. In the same vein, the African Union has also declared the year 2010 as the year of peace and security in Africa, aimed at promoting the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and solidarity across generations, cultures, religions and civilizations.

The raison d’être  of the African component of the International Year of Youth is driven in the commitments made by African Heads of Government in the Fourteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 2 February 2010.

It is for this reason therefore, that the AU in celebration of The African Youth Day which became a tradition every November 1st ,proclaimed and instituted on the occasion of the African Youth Charter adoption in Executive Council decision of Banjul Summit 2006 DOC.EX.CL/292 (IX), will from the 1-3 of November 2010 jointly celebrate the African Youth Day and the  International Year of the Youth.

With the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) ,Talent Youth Association (TaYA) Young African Leaders Forum (YALF), as major Conveners , this high level meeting will bring onboard 120 young people from all around Africa to discuss and  promote an increased understanding of the importance and benefits of Youth participation in all aspects of African society and to devote their energy, enthusiasm and creativity to development and inter-generational and cultural understanding  at the AU’s head quarters in Addis Ababa- Ethiopia.
 Having as theme: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding (same as the theme for IYY)  these young people along with stake holders, policy makers, entrepreneurs, Ambassadors  will for these three exciting days be engaged in discussions surrounding;

-Bridging of the generational gap on decision making and leadership transition
-Youth participation on youth issues
-Education and skills development
-Role of technology and communication gap
-Youth Empowerment and Globalization
-Where does youth see its future in the globalised world?
-Access to financial capital for youth
-Youth rights and youth living in (post) conflict situations.

The resolutions arrived at, in the course of this forum will provide the framework for the July 2011 Summit of African Heads of Governments, Malabo- Equatorial Guinea, which is devoted to Youth empowerment and development for sustainable development.

The day to day events, discussions, fun activities will be covered and made available on AMPLIFY!

Get your voices heard and taken to this forum by posting your comments on amplify; www.amplifyyourvoice.org  or you can follow up on- going discussions on AU’s Website; www.africa-ydf.org   

By Abongwa Victor
International Youth Journalist
Cameroon