Sunday 11 August 2013

IYD 2013 AND LAUNCH OF THE MALAWI NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2013/LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

August 12 each year is the United Nations International Youth Day (IYD).

The International Youth Day has a history dating as far back as 1985 when the UN celebrated the first International Year of Youth. In 1991 the day was proposed by young people who had gathered for the first session of the United Nations’ World Youth Forum. In 1998, the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth adopted a resolution proclaiming August 12 as International Youth Day. The recommendation was endorsed by the UN General Assembly a year later, and in 2000 the day was commemorated for the first time.

This year, the day is being commemorated worldwide under the theme: Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward.

In Malawi, however, the commemorations this year will be done under the theme: Culture, Talent: Celebrating Youth Leadership.

Migration is happening a lot both internally and across the borders, variously shaping the development of individuals, families, communities, and the nation. However, the importance of harnessing culture and talents among the youth has grown to be important for developing leadership in young people. There are various lessons culture teaches us, as are various talents that it scaffolds. It is the relationship among the three, and the evidence in various cultural settings, that Malawian youths and the general population will be celebrating on International Youth Day 2013.

Activities marking the IYD this year will be held in in accordance with the following details:

Date: Monday, 12 August, 2013

Venue: Ntcheu Community Centre Ground.

Guest of Honour: Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda, President of the Republic of Malawi.

MALAWI NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY

Among the highlights of the International Youth Day event will be the adoption and launch of the Malawi National Youth Policy by Her Excellency the State President.

The policy is a document that young people and stakeholders in the youth development industry have looked forward to and have persistently advocated for.

Youths across the country have for some time questioned the absence of the policy, as there has been no official policy document to guide the direction of youth work in Malawi. The launch of this policy will mark a leap in the right direction for youth development work in Malawi.

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