“Mission55 Conflict in Anaka” Game Seeks To Power Up The Youth
The
game, which the AU and GIZ developed, aims to raise awareness, educate
and inform the public, particularly youth, on the mandate of the AU to
promote good governance, peace and security in Africa.
This week the African Union (AU) Youth for Peace Africa Programme,
the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and
the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) launched a
serious game known as “Mission55 Conflict in Anaka”, to commemorate the
International Day of Peace (Peace Day) 2022. The game, which the AU and
GIZ developed, aims to raise awareness, educate and inform the public,
particularly youth, on the mandate of the AU to promote good governance,
peace and security in Africa. Moreover, the launch exposes participants
to the African Governance Architecture (AGA), the African Peace and
Security Architecture (APSA) tools used to prevent, manage and mitigate
conflicts. It also aims to enhance the agency of PeaceBuilders within
their communities.
And speaking at the opening ceremony, Patience Chiradza, Director for
Governance and Conflict Prevention, on behalf of Amb. Bankole Adeoye,
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, lauded the
AU-GIZ-UN partnership. She called on African youth to continue to
leverage new technologies in deepening their knowledge and understanding
toward meaningfully contributing to sustainable peace in Africa.
Chiradza underlined the significant contributions of the African
Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAPs) in advancing the implementation of
the youth, peace and security agenda in close collaboration with the AU
Member States, particularly the Peace and Security Council., “The
adoption of the Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security and
its 10-Year Implementation Plan in 2020 is a key milestone,” concluded
Chiradza. On his part, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of
the UN Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of UNOAU,
reiterated the UN’s commitment to promote human dignity, end racism and
build peace, in line with the Peace Day 2022 theme and the Joint AU-UN
Framework for an Enhanced Partnership. Onanga-Anyanga stated that
education is critical in promoting harmony in our communities and
applauded the use of technological innovations for inclusivity in
peacebuilding.
According to Stephan Auer, German Ambassador to Ethiopia, “This game
will reinforce outreach efforts as youth can now connect through
smartphones and be more aware of the work of the African Union in crisis
prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding”. And following the
launch, the AYAPs convened a Youth General Assembly to update young
people on the status of the implementation of the youth, peace and
security agenda in Africa. These activities to mark Peace Day 2022 at
the AU Headquarters brought together representatives from the AU and
partner organizations, AYAPs, and other young people from across the
continent, including digital media practitioners and social media
influencers. To learn more, the game can be downloaded at Mission 55 Games.
UNICEF joined the South African education
stakeholders to look, pump up society and rallied it to action over
the protection of schools.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU), which happens
to be the biggest union in the education and public service sector, in
collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and
UNICEF South Africa, are on a campaign to protect schools’
infrastructure.
This collaboration stems from Sadtu’s ‘I am a school fan’
campaign intended to mobilise all stakeholders that includes learners,
parents, teachers, community members, relevant government departments,
faith-based organisations, and the private sector to play a decisive
role towards ensuring that schools are safe.
Moreover, the July 2021 “riots” and the recent floods in
KwaZulu-Natal further illuminated the infrastructure challenges in our
schools.
CAPE
TOWN: “It is our view that the youth will be the catalytic force to the
realization of the continental agenda. This asset in our hands is
perhaps the greatest resource, an asset much more valuable than all the
oil and mineral resources. The African youth are beginning to make
significant contributions to economic transformation across the
continent.”
These words were made by Prof. Benedict Okechukwu Oramah, President
and Chairman of Afreximbank, during his opening remarks at the 29th
Annual Meetings of Afreximbank recently.
Prof. Oramah has made a strong case for the role of the youth in
Africa’s developmental future, emphasizing that industrial revolutions
seen in other countries were largely attributed to a young and capable
workforce; a young and capable workforce is representative of Africa’s
workforce today.
Recent developments and research show that Africa represents one of
the highest potential markets for growth with significant natural and
human capital resources untapped.
Diverse and rich with opportunities, the continent is home to a
number of growing markets spanning natural and mineral resources,
construction, infrastructure, forestry, agriculture, tourism and
cultural sectors.
However, it is the continent’s human capital and digital technology
potential that offers the solution to unlocking a new era of
intra-African trade and growth.
Following the formation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963,
now the African Union (AU), established with a vision for an Africa
that was united, free and in control of its own destiny, countries
across the continent have been progressively improving intra-African
trade and commerce, recognizing the role cross-border business and
continental cooperation will play in driving sustainable socioeconomic
growth in Africa.
To further incentivize trade, the African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA) was implemented in January 2021, the premise of which
was to form the world’s largest free trade area by connecting the over
1.3 billion people across 54 African countries.
And the AfCFTA marked a historic moment for the continent, signaling a new era of simplified trade in Africa.
However, despite its implementation, an article by the Economist of
London stated that adoption and leveraging of the AfCFTA has been slow,
and “in practice, no trade has happened under its terms because of
continued political wrangling.
“Africa’s leaders risk squandering the promise of freer trade.” says Prof. Oramah.
He contended that, “While the Economist was right with regards to the
facts set out in their article, the conclusions are wrong because the
facts in the article are symptoms of a major problem the article did not
explore. We cannot reverse the symptoms without confronting the
problem.”
According to Prof. Oramah, it is necessary to explore the roots of
the problem rather than simply criticize modern state of affairs, while
driving the adoption and capitalization of growth-oriented agreements
such as the AfCFTA.
Specifically, in order to accelerate intra-African trade and
commerce, the continent should turn towards its own resources, driving
investment and development by leveraging Africa’s human capital and
technological potential.
“While the problem was identified decades ago, it is only now that
Africa can boast of possessing a combination of factors that can resolve
it. These consist of visionary and committed leadership, the youth, and
digital technology. Our leadership has done the courageous work of
giving us the AfCFTA. A lot now hinges on our Youth. It is for this
reason that Afreximbank dedicated this year’s Annual Meeting to the
theme, “Realizing the AfCFTA Potential in the Post-COVID-19 Era:
Leveraging the Power of The Youth,” Prof. Oramah continued.
As Africa’s diverse markets witness heightened investment and
development in a post-COVID-19 context, trade will be critical for
ensuring continental, rather than isolated, socio-economic development.
The youth’s role in this development is clear and by investing in the
continent’s human capital development, Africa will be able to reap the
rewards of a strong and growth-focused economy.
“The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is not only an advocate for the
development of the continent’s natural resources but of its human
capital resources. Africa’s population represents the youngest, the
fastest growing and arguably the most determined. It is time for us to
position the youth at the forefront of the continent’s development, and
only then will we be able to witness unprecedented growth. During the
continent’s premier energy event, African Energy Week 2022, discussions
will center around the youth, the role of women in Africa’s energy
future and strategies for enhancing intra-African trade and business,”
states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
Prof. Oramah concluded, “Sprouting everywhere in a fragmented
continent, the African youth are poised to make giant strides in a
single continental market and could seamlessly become the drivers of
Africa’s integration and intra-African trade. Policies that give them
intellectual property protection, ease the cost of doing business as
well as improve access to the single African market will unleash their
entrepreneurial drive. A vibrant single market will open a new vista of
opportunities that will broaden the choices available to the youth and
empower them to reach their potential.”
World Youth Skills Day 2022 promotes TVET as a Solution
“Young
people are drivers of change and must be fully engaged in decisions
affecting their future. Guided by the United Nations Youth 2030
strategy, I urge everyone to act for youth skills development as a
priority, at the Summit and beyond.” UN Secretary-General António
Guterres.
“Young people are drivers of change and must be fully engaged in
decisions affecting their future. Guided by the United Nations Youth
2030 strategy, I urge everyone to act for youth skills development as a
priority, at the Summit and beyond.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The UN Chief made these words on Friday, July 15, 2022 during the World Youth Skills Day celebrations.
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 15 as World Youth Skills Day.
The
idea behind this move is to celebrate the strategic importance of
equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and
entrepreneurship.
And since then, World Youth Skills Day has
provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people,
technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions,
firms, employers’ and workers’ organizations, policy-makers and
development partners.
World Youth Skills Day 2022 took place amid
concerted efforts towards socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic that are interconnected with challenges such as climate change,
conflict, persisting poverty, rising inequality, rapid technological
change, demographic transition among others.
Research shows that
young women and girls, young persons with disabilities, youth from
poorer households, rural communities, indigenous peoples, and minority
groups, as well as those who suffer the consequences of violent conflict
and political instability, continue to be excluded due to a combination
of factors.
In addition, the crisis has accelerated several
transitions the world of work was already undergoing, which add layers
of uncertainty regarding the skills and competencies that will be in
demand after the pandemic is overcome.
TVET is well placed to
help address these challenges by reducing access barriers to the world
of work, ensuring that skills gained are recognized and certified, and
offering skills development opportunities for out-of-school youth and those not in employment, education or training (NEET).
Experts
have declared that during this Decade of Action for the 2030 Agenda,
the full engagement of young people in global processes is vital to
generate positive change and innovation.
The celebrations of
World Youth Skills Day 2022 highlighted the ongoing focus on the
Transforming Education Summit (September 2022), and contributed to the
work being done under its Thematic Action Track “Learning and skills for
life, work, and sustainable development”. The summit is a
youth-inspired global event of major importance for the future of
millions of young people; it is prepared by, with and for youth.
The
“Transforming youth skills for the future” global event was
co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka to the
United Nations, together with UNESCO, ILO and the Office of the
Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. It brought together youth,
governments, UN agencies, private sector and civil society
representatives to analyse the impact of current crises on youth across the world, and discussed how young people can quickly adapt to the demands of an ever-changing world.
Moreover,
organisers state, the growing youth population, rising unemployment in
many countries, changes in the labour market and in our economy due to
technological developments are just some of the reasons why we must
provide future generations with the entrepreneurial skills and mindsets
they need to cope with a changing world.
And to help technical
and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions form the
entrepreneurial values that are important for young people’s lives,
economic development and a sustainable society, UNESCO–UNEVOC has
developed a practical guide on how to introduce entrepreneurial learning where it is lacking, and how to mainstream it in vocational training.
To
the question of: What role do technical and vocational education and
training play? The overwhelming response from experts and industry
leaders is that, education and training are central to the achievement
of the 2030 Agenda.
And the vision of the Incheon Declaration:
Education 2030 is fully captured by Sustainable Development Goal 4
“Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong
learning opportunities for all”.
They add that, Education 2030
devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills
development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); the acquisition
of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and
entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring
access for the vulnerable.
In this context, TVET is expected to
address the multiple demands of an economic, social and environmental
nature by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for
employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, promoting equitable,
inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to
green economies and environmental sustainability, the experts
emphasize.
The average age in Africa is 19 and sport, specifically basketball,
is a passion point for more than 100 million fans across the continent.
In recent years we have seen the number of African players rising on the
international circuit, providing inspiration and impetus for many young
people dreaming of becoming the next global basketball all-star, so
says Emmanuel Kasambala, KFC Marketing Director, Rest of Sub-Saharan
Africa.
“For us it’s about
developing our home continent’s youth – giving them the facilities and
safe spaces to use their talents and grow their skills. It is for this
reason that we are refurbishing and building basketball courts within communities in key markets.”
KFC
Africa, the most loved fast-food brand in 23 markets across the
continent, is partnering with Serge Ibaka, of the Milwaukee Bucks, to
enable and uplift the continent’s youth and communities, whilst growing
grass-roots basketball.
Following on from KFC Africa’s announcement about its partnership with NBA Africa, the brand has even bigger plans for the game.
The
first of these basketball courts was recently built and donated in
Kenya, as a result of a partnership between KFC and the Jonathan Jackson
Foundation (JJF).
Moreover,
this was initiated under the Bakee Mtaani (‘basketball in the hood’)
initiative, at the Humama Public Grounds in Kayole Community, and also
sees youth within the community benefitting from basketball equipment
and coaching programmes at the new court.
In
addition to this, a significantly positive spin-off was that the
construction of the court resulted in jobs for more than 50 skilled and
unskilled youths.
And with
regards to the courts initiative specifically, this is just the
beginning – ambitious plans are underway for another 11 courts in Kenya
in coming months, as well as additional projects in other markets including Botswana, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania among others.
“We
are also extremely excited about our epic collab with Serge Ibaka – an
African basketball legend – to further highlight the strength and
potential of the game. It goes without saying that Serge is a true
inspiration to our youth, and by joining forces, we accelerate growth
and development for the stars of the future.”
Born
in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, Serge is a three-time NBA
All-Defensive First Team selection and has twice led the league in
blocks. In 2019, he won his first NBA championship as a key member of
the Toronto Raptors.
Adding
to these impressive basketball credentials, Serge is also personally
invested in uplifting and developing the youth, through his own Serge
Ibaka Foundation, that focuses on issues of children’s health and education, and the Serge Ibaka Dreams Academy, that focuses on giving back through basketball.
In
adding his perspective, Serge Ibaka says, “The talent that Africa is
producing is just amazing and my goal is to inspire them and to
contribute to ensure that the next generation is given every opportunity
to shine in the game I love. I am very proud to be able to partner with
KFC Africa to give more back to my home continent. Having basketball
courts in their local communities, close to young players, is a huge
advantage in helping them to develop their basketball and life skills.”
KFC
Africa believes in fueling the passion-points of the young, and young
at heart, by connecting at the touch-points that mean something across
its markets.
Kasambala
concluded, “With Serge being such an icon in the game, it made perfect
sense for us to take up the opportunity to partner with him to bring our
brand’s support of basketball to life. Additionally, it is through
initiatives like this that KFC Africa aims to see more young players
from Africa level up both on and off the court, whilst creating a
lasting legacy for generations to come.”
NBA
Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development
arm Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), announced an expansion of their youth
development partnership
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 24, 2022/ — 12th year of Royal Bafokeng jr. NBA (www.NBA.com)
programme will reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools
across the Royal Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg region;
Programme has reached more than 100,000 youth since 2011 through
basketball development and youth engagement initiatives.
NBA
Africa and the Royal Bafokeng Nation, through its sports development arm
Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), today announced an expansion of their
long-term youth development partnership. The expanded partnership will
see the 12th year of the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme
reach more than 20,000 boys and girls from 44 schools across the Royal
Bafokeng Nation and Greater Rustenburg Region in South Africa.
The
Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme, which launched in 2011 with 36 boys
and girls teams from 18 middle and high schools across all five regions
of the Royal Bafokeng Nation, has reached more than 100,000 youth over
the past 12 years through basketball development and youth engagement
initiatives. The programme features a youth basketball league for boys
and girls in primary and high schools, elite development camps for the
top 50 boys and girls in the programme, monthly clinics and camps,
coaching clinics and certification programmes, and basketball court
refurbishments.
“Basketball has been much more than a sport among the Bafokeng youth,” said Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, the 36th king
of the Royal Bafokeng Nation. “Through the support of the NBA and RBS,
the programme has helped develop and inspire top athletes and coaching
staffs, create educational opportunities, and grow the sport not only
for the RBN community, but across the continent. The RBN welcomes the
continued partnership and success with the NBA.”
“Launched more
than 10 years ago, the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme was the NBA’s
first youth development programme on the continent,” said NBA Africa CEO
Victor Williams. “We are excited to expand our partnership with RBS
and look forward to continuing to use the transformative power of
basketball to inspire more boys and girls in the North West Province in
the years to come.”
The Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA Programme is the
league’s largest Jr. NBA programme in Africa and has achieved a number
of milestones since its launch in 2011. More than 120 youth and 15
coaches from the programme have represented the North West Province in
national tournaments. Six girls and two boys went on to represent South
Africa in international tournaments at the youth and senior levels, and
two girls and two coaches participated in the Jr. NBA Global
Championships in Orlando, Fla., in 2018 and 2019. In addition, more
than 100 former participants have gone on to study at universities and
colleges in South Africa, with two alumni receiving full scholarships to
high schools and universities in the United States.
In August
2017, the programme hosted the first Jr. NBA Africa Festival, which
featured Jr. NBA teams from Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and
Zimbabwe competing against one another and participating in life-skills
programming in the lead-up to the NBA Africa Game 2017. That same year,
the programme was recognised with the Development Programme of the Year
Award at the Sport Industry Awards in South Africa.
The Royal
Bafokeng Nation has an ambitious and aggressive strategy over the next
few years to place sports, education, and elite sporting academies at
the forefront of the Nation’s vision of diversification, sustainability
and social cohesion, which the NBA and RBS play a critical role in
delivering.
The NBA has a long history in Africa and opened its
African headquarters in Johannesburg in 2010. Since then, the league’s
efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball
and the NBA through social responsibility, grassroots and elite
development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa
Games, the launch of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and more. The
BAL’s second season tipped off earlier this month in Dakar, Senegal.
South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers will make their BAL debut during the
league’s Nile Conference group phase at Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports
Complex in Cairo, Egypt, from April 9-19.
African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment Program Selects 500 Digital Ambassadors to Lead Peer-to-Peer Training Model
The Digital Ambassadors Program has come at the right time when
the Bank is putting finishing touches to the Skills for Employability
and Productivity in Africa Action Plan 2022–2025, says Martha Phiri, the
AfDB’s Director for Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development.
She added, the Action Plan will equip African youth with the skills
that are in high demand; skills the labour market requires. Both will
complement each other and will create positive impact on Africa’s
workforce and lead to economic transformation,” stated Phiri.
The African Development Bank’s Coding for Employment program has
selected 500 changemakers, AT least 45% of whom are women, from four
countries for the pilot Digital Ambassadors Program.
The selected Digital Ambassadors will embark on a three-month course
during which they will be equipped with in-demand digital skills, such
as software development, as well as soft skills, such as problem
solving, project management and communication.
They will then lead a peer-to-peer training model that seeks to
expand digital skills to more African youth, especially in rural
communities with limited internet connectivity.
The Bank and its technical partner, Microsoft, selected the Digital
Ambassadors from more than 21,000 applications received from all over
Africa.
For this first edition, the 500 Digital Ambassadors were selected
from four countries where the Coding for Employment program is
operational, namely Côte d’Ivoire (75), Kenya (100), Nigeria (150) and
Senegal (175).
Photo By AfdbMoreover,
after graduation, the Digital Ambassadors will receive information and
communication technology toolkits from the Bank and Microsoft so they
can offer the same training within their local communities.
The Bank launched the Coding for Employment in 2018 to equip African
youth with demand-driven information and communication technology skills
to position them competitively for the global labour market.
The program has established information and communication technology
centers with partner universities across its countries of operation and
provided digital skills training to over 150,000 youth, including
135,000 reached through the Coding for Employment eLearning platform and
the Digital Nigeria platform.
The Coding for Employment Program is at the center of the AfDB’s Jobs
for Youth in Africa Strategy, which aims to propel Africa’s youth onto a
path to prosperity.
By 2025, the Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy will equip 50 million
youth with employable skills and create 25 million jobs in agriculture,
information and communication technology and other key industries across
Africa.
“We are delighted by the enthusiasm and the passion the candidates
have shown for the program. We have sifted through all the applications
to identify candidates whose background and qualifications closely match
the selection criteria. The 500 candidates will not only acquire skills
that can help them find work but will also be able to create their own
jobs while also training others,” said Hendrina Doroba, the Bank’s
Manager for Education and Skills Development.
Carelle Laetitia, one of the Digital Ambassadors, commented, “When I
received the selection email, I felt happy and above all proud. I know
it was not easy to be selected among hundreds of talented youths. I hope
to build a strong network and acquire solid digital skills in order to
share them with my community.”
Over the years, the AfDB has invested $1.64 billion in programs to
prepare the youth for careers in science, technology and innovation.
The Digital Ambassadors Program is aligned to the Skills for
Employability and Productivity in Africa, and both tie in with one of
the Bank’s five priorities—improving the quality of life for the people
of Africa.
AUC Chair Calls On Youth To Drive Change In Their Communities
THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA l Thursday, August 18, 2022
Starconnect Media
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – In joining hands with the youth in celebration of International Youth Day, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat declared, “I encourage all Youth to keep advocating, championing and driving change in their communities as we journey towards achieving the Africa We Want”.
In commemoration of International Youth Day, this week the Office of
the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy, hosted an academic webinar
with The Africa Center for Strategic Studies and The African Union’s
Youth4Peace Africa Program.
The AU noted that the academic webinar was aimed at assessing the
magnitude and scope of security risks and opportunities associated with
the youth bulge in Africa and discussing the role of youth in promoting
security and peace.
Over 500 participants drawn from 68 countries and across sectors
including the private sector, military, civil society, government
ministries and youth groups had registered for the webinar which was
held under International Youth Day theme ‘Building Intergenerational
Solidarity.’
Moreover, the AUC Chairperson’s Envoy on Youth, Chido Mpemba in
giving remarks alluded to the need to demystify the security sector for
young people and to create pathways for young people to dialogue and
contribute towards peace building.
“Young people are a useful resource that must be meaningfully
included in peace and security decisions, policy frameworks and
accountability mechanisms. They are part of the solution to combat the
security challenges and must be rightfully given the voice”, said
Mpemba.
Furthermore, the Academic Webinar was opened by Ambassador Bankole
Adeoye, Commissioner for The African Union Political Affairs Peace and
Security, who gave his assurance to young people and spoke on the
commitments of the Peace and Security Council to create pathways for
continuous engagement with the youth, as well as some of the commitments
made by the African Union through the implementation of mechanisms such
as the continental framework on Youth, Peace and Security affirming the
roles and responsibilities that the youth play in conflicts,
acknowledging protection efforts and promoting their contributions
towards peace efforts.
According to the AU, the Academic webinar will build on a series to
highlight some of the African Union Continental frameworks, providing a
platform for engagement, peer learning and sharing.
Unpacking volunteerism as a pathway to employability
UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni has become the latest leader to
commit his country to reaching over 1 million young people in Uganda
annually with opportunities to accelerate the African Union Commission’s
vision of reaching 300 million young people by 2030 under the 1 Million
Next Level initiative.
Authorities this week noted that this pledge has set a great pace and tone for many Heads of State to join this commitment.
“Youth development is at the heart of the Government of Uganda. I
would like to state that, we will work with all the relevant sectors to
upscale youth development and empower 1 million young people annually as
a step and our commitment towards the AUC’s 1 Million Next Level
initiative”.
Museveni said in his statement at the high-level opening ceremony
during the 3rd African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Consultation
Symposium which took place in Kampala, Uganda from 5th to 9th July 2022.
The symposium convened over 800 young people from across the
continent to discuss the role of youth in the implementation of the
Africa Union’s Agenda 2063, and related national aspirations, while
enhancing the implementation of the objectives of the South-South
triangular cooperation.
The 1 Million Next Level Initiative is a continental programme and a
successor of the 1 Million by 2021. It falls within the African Union
Youth Charter article 11 which called for equal participation of young
people in all spheres and a contributor to the achievement of the Agenda
2063 especially Aspiration 6: “An Africa Whose Development is people
driven, relying on the potential offered by African People, especially
its Women and Youth, and caring for Children”.
The goal of the 1million Next Level is to reach over 300 million
African youth with opportunities along the 5 priority areas of impact,
namely; Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Engagement and Health
and Wellbeing (4Es and H) as targeted efforts to unleash the potential
of youth across the continent.
According to the Acting Director of the Women, Gender and Youth
Directorate at the AUC, Prudence Ngwenya, the President’s pledge is an
unprecedented one and a good step towards positively impacting the lives
of Africa’s youth.
“The African Union will continue to work with the Government of
Uganda in ensuring that young people are empowered and ignited for
change. Young people are brilliant, creative and innovative, and these
are the catalytic skills the continent requires to fully unleash the
potential of Africa’s youth”, She said in her remarks during the 3rd
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Consultation Symposium.
Moreover, the APRM prioritized youth mainstreaming as a critical
element for building prosperous, secure, and self-sustaining African
economies.
And the 3rd APRM Youth Symposium was therefore a successful platform
for youth-tailored conversations on governance, developing Africa.
On the sideline of the symposium, the AU, through the Women and Youth
Directorate hosted several sessions to empower and engage the Youth in
governance and development processes.
These were themed across the 4Es and H of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative and included;
An intergenerational dialogue titled “Leveraging the 1 Million Next Level Initiative to unleash the potential of Youth”;
A youth consultation on transforming education in Africa;
A youth engagement session on amplifying the Bingwa Initiative;
An Egumeni Session addressing violence against women and girls which
was titled; “You Are Not Alone: Flattening the Curve of the Shadow
Pandemic”;
A youth validation session on the AU Women and Youth Financial and
Economic Inclusion (WYFEI) 2030 Strategy; A session unpacking
volunteerism as a pathway to employability.
CAPE TOWN- CHILDREN deserve the best care, support, protection, love and attention that all countries must commit to bring about.
The100 Million Campaign is a global campaign to mobilise 100 million
youths to devote themselves for a better future for 100 million
marginalised children who have been denied their rights and liberty.
Since its launch in 2016, youth, civil society organisations, trade
unions, schools and universities from more than 36 countries have joined
this campaign, and are working together to protect the rights
of children of their respective countries.
And this is the reason that the African Union Economic, Social, and
Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) have joined forces with the African Union
Commission (AUC), International Labour Organization (ILO) and 100
Million Campaign to advocate for and raise awareness on the promotion
and protection of the rights and welfare of children in Africa, with the
specific goal of ultimately putting an end to child labour in
Africa.
The partnership was formed in preparation for the 5th Global
Conference (V Conference) on Child Labour which was held in Durban,
South Africa, from 15 – 20 May 2022.
The Vth Conference convened governments, leaders, and civil society
organisations (CSOs) to speak with one voice and act collectively to
ensure that the voices and demands of children and young people who
have experienced the injustices of child labour are echoed and heard across the continent.
To commemorate the World Day Against Child Labour and International
Day of the African Child, ECOSOCC teamed up with ECOSOCC member CSOs and
the 100 Million Campaign to tell the stories of child labour survivors
through recorded testimonies.
On June 12, ECOSOCC, its members and the partners launched a
week-long social media awareness campaign, posting a visual testimony
from a child labour survivor every day to share their stories and call
for action from both the African and international communities to end
child labour.
The social media campaign sought to promote children’s rights in
Africa and around the world, in line with the African Union’s efforts to
promote and protect the rights and welfare of children in Africa in
accordance with Aspiration 6 of Agenda 2063 which envisages an “Africa
whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African
people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”
The collaboration of ECOSOCC, AUC ILO, and the 100 Million Campaign
demonstrates a paradigm shift within the African community, particularly
among civil society, in their efforts to shed more light on the living
realities of children and youth, as well as the complexities of the
labour market.
The campaign also presents an opportunity for all relevant
stakeholders, including member states and policy makers at all levels to
accelerate their efforts to end child labour and secure the rights of
children in Africa.
ECOSOCC was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of
different social and professional groups of AU Member States.
The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the
effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the
African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of
these programmes.
Les Brown is a world-renowned trainer, and a prolific and great motivational speaker of all time.
Students and business associates describe him as a “dynamic personality”.
Brown, a highly sought-after resource in the business and
professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners,
non-profits, and community leaders from all sectors of society looking
to expand opportunities has been at it for close to 50 years.
For more than four decades he has not only studied the science of achievement.
Brown has mastered the science of achievement by interviewing hundreds of successful business leaders.
He has also collaborated with business leaders in the boardroom translating theory into bottom-line results for his clients.
A regular speaker, visitor, and friend of Africa, Brown’s professional record speaks for itself.
He is a premier keynote speaker and leading authority on achievement for audiences as large as 80 000.
He does this – for instance – when commenting on “Your Decision to
Make a Difference in the World with Your Voice and Your Story”
programme.
Brown remarks: “I’m excited about developing 100 000 voices of hope and inspiration.”
Les Brown energises people to meet the challenges of the world around them.
When he skilfully tells his compelling life story into the fabric of
our daily lives, he is capable of moving the coldest of hearts.
Leslie Calvin “Les” Brown was born on 17 February 1945.
He is an American-based motivational speaker, author, radio DJ, former television host, and former politician.
As a politician, he is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives.
As a motivational speaker, he uses the catchphrase “it’s
possible!” and teaches people to follow their dreams as he learned to
do.
He was the host of The Les Brown Show.
Brown was born with his twin brother, Wesley, in an abandoned building in Liberty City, a low-income section of Miami, Florida.
He was subsequently given up for adoption and adopted by Mamie Brown,
a 38-year-old single woman who worked as a cafeteria attendant and
domestic assistant.
In grade school, Brown was mistakenly declared, “educable
mentally retarded,” and teachers did not recognise his true potential.
Despite the self-esteem and confidence loss this situation
caused, Brown learned how to reach his full potential with the
encouragement of his mother and assistance from a helpful teacher in
high school
This would prove to be a key point in many motivational speeches he now gives.
Brown says: “The thread is forever strengthened, touting why you
can’t afford to be complacent and to aim high, achieve and actively make
an impact on the world.”
His followers attest that Les Brown “never tires of using his
energies to better the world, well-beyond the podium and public
appearances.”
He is also known for meshing traditional and social media to empower his audiences.
Hundreds of thousands are watching him on YouTube and tens
of thousands interact with him regularly on Facebook on a regular basis.
Addressing audiences from Denmark to Dubai, Canada to the
Caribbean, Spain to South Africa, Les Brown is invited back again and
again for his powerful message and the ability to connect deeply with
people from all walks of life.
It isn’t just his great smile and his way with words that motivates people to take action like never before.
When people face roadblocks or adversity it is the depth of their knowledge on achievement that creates lasting results.
Brown’s straight-from-the-heart, passion, and high-energy, motivate
audiences to step beyond their limitations and into their greatness in
many ways.
Over the past decade, Brown has expanded his role from keynote
speaker to master trainer, creating the kind of workshop learning
experience that got him committed to personal-and-professional
development many years earlier.
His charisma, warmth, and humour have transformed ordinary people
into extraordinary achievers by using his own life. And his in-depth
study of others’ challenges, to build an understanding of what works,
what doesn’t work, and why.
Legions of followers flock to stadiums and arenas to hear a man
who never stops believing that with proper guidance and training you
can achieve anything you desire in life.
However, he used determination, persistence, and belief in his
ability to unleash a course of amazing achievements including
broadcast station manager, political commentator, and multi-term
state representative in Ohio.
Brown is committed to motivating and training today’s generation to be achievers and leaders.
He introduces new audiences every day to “It’s Not Over Until You Win, Up Thoughts for Down Times, and Fight For Your Dream”, which is also available in book form.
Brown’s audio series, “Choosing Your Future,” remains his all-time bestseller for its acclaimed impact worldwide.
In business as in real life there are always going to be ups and downs, says Brown.
However, “where there is a will, there is always a way to achieve amazing results for your organisation”.
Brown always fills the room with his high-impact, customised message and gets a standing ovation for the performance.
He has a keen way of turning what he touches into gold.
More than 25 years ago, he won a Chicago-area Emmy for his
unsurpassed fundraising pledge drive for the Public Broadcasting System.
This was followed by several bestselling books and hosting popular national talk shows on television and radio.
Revered as an icon by his colleagues, Brown received the
National Speakers Association coveted Council of Peers Award of
Excellence (CPAE), and ultimately, its most prestigious Golden Gavel
Award for achievement and leadership in communication.
Toastmasters International also voted him one of the Top Five Outstanding Speakers worldwide.
Brown is deeply involved in wealth-building programmes; like Financial Destiny (7 Steps To Control Your Financial Destiny); The Journey To Wealth (12 steps to becoming wealthy) and of course his lasted book, The 12 Laws of Success,
a book that took him 22 years to write, as we wanted to produce the
ultimate guide to help people achieve their full potential in life.
His other more recent notable projects include the Les
Brown International, Les Brown Institute, Les Brown Enterprises, and the
Les Brown University.
His signature statement is: “You have something special! You
have Greatness within you! That’s my story. And I’m sticking to it.”
by 
