Dear Friends and Colleagues,
2008 has been a very fruitful and eventful year, with lots of advances and adventures for the development community. Some progress has been made with addressing HIV/AIDS and other health challenges in many countries. Some countries have made some advancements with the
education related MDGs, in many countries there have been various processes towards reviewing national policies on various issues, prominently youth. These are great things to be happy for.
Many of us have built new personal and institutional relationships. We have advanced our work to greater heights. Some of us have made progress in both our individual and institutional lives. What can be better?
In a matter of hours, 2008 will come to an end, and a new year will begin. I wish to thank you all for the important opportunity to have worked with you over 2008, particularly in the area of youth development and HIV prevention. I thank you for allowing me to make my contributions to your processes at national, regional and global levels. I hope we will continue these partnerships in the coming year.
As 2009 opens, the world is grappling with global food and financial crises, which have affected most of the developed/ industralised world and the developing world alike. Many countries are still grappling with poverty, health challenges and hunger. In some parts of Africa, democracy has been over turned by the men in uniforms. There is
lingering crisis in the middle east and many countries are faced with internal conflicts. Access to education still remains a great challenge for many developing countries, and there are inequalities in communities, countries, continents and the global community. Only our collective efforts will help us address these issues effectively. We
will continue to talk together on these issues through our advocacy efforts. Will continue to work together through our community initiatives and policy processes and we will continue to shape the world as a better place for all humanity both in the coming year and many years ahead.
Please accept my best wishes for the year ahead.
