DPI is a co-organiser of this event.
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Dear all,
We write to invite you to the African Youth Day celebration which we are coordinating with the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York on Monday November 3, 2008 from 8.30am to 2.00pm (breakfast and Lunch will be provided). The event will take place at the conference room of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations (305 East 47th Street (between 2nd and 1st ave., 5th Floor, New York, NY 10017).
To RSVP: Ms. Puseletso Molato Adelina of the Permanent Observer Mission of the AU to the UN at (212) 319 5490 ext. 50
or Ms. Onyeka Obasi of Friends of Africa International at 646 797 7115.
Brief Background:
During the Seventh Ordinary Session of The Assembly of African Heads of States, held In Banjul, The Gambia on 2nd July 2006, African Heads of States adopted the African Youth Charter while its Executive Council endorsed the recommendations to celebrate the 1st November of each year as the African Youth Day and the year 2008 as the Year of African Youth.
At the second ordinary conference of ministers in charge of youth in the African Union held in February 2008 in Addis Ababa, member states adopted the plan of action to accelerate the popularisation, ratification and implementation of the African Youth Charter as well as the Plan of action for the African Year of Youth under the theme: African Youth for Peace and Development. However, not much has been heard of the African Year of Youth and its activities in the Diaspora. It is imperative, therefore to engage Africa’s young people in the Diaspora with these African led initiatives.
In view of the above, we, Friends of Africa International and the African Union Observer Mission to the United Nations are collaborating to organize an interactive forum in celebration of the Africa Youth Day on November 3, 2008.
The objectives of the interactive forum are:
To advance efforts to popularise the African Youth Charter among young people in the Diaspora;
To engage in a constructive dialogue on the developmental challenges facing the continent and design interventions and recommendations to be presented in Madagascar June 2009, during the third Pan African Youth Leadership Forum, PAYLF III.
To promote and showcase the work of African Union member states in the area of youth development, particularly in relation to the African Youth Charter.
To familiarise youth in the Diaspora with the work of the African Union, its key organs and decision making processes
To come up with an action plan on how African youth in the Diaspora could be involved in Africa’s development going forward
The theme for this year’s African Youth Day is – African Youth Promoting African Positive Values.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Onyeka Obasi
onyeka@fafrica.org
www.fafrica.org