Ethiopia: African Union Celebrates International Youth Day

By Eric sande

ADDIS ABABA — African Union will on August 12 Celebrate the International Youth Day at the African Union Commission Headquarters, Addis Ababa.

The main objective is to raise awareness about the transformative role of young people through civic participation in governance processes on the continent and also to promote new and more proactive citizenship towards the realization of the goals of Agenda 2063.

Among the participants are  H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, AUC Chairperson; H.E Dr Martial De-Paul Ikounga, Commissioner HRST; H.E Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, Commissioner, Political Affairs and Youth in Africa.

Themed “Youth Civic Engagement”, the engagement and participation of youth is said to be essential to achieve sustainable human development. Yet often the opportunities for youth to engage politically, economically and socially are low or non-existent. 

"More efforts are needed to raise awareness about the importance of youth civic engagement and its benefits to the individual and to society, including for sustainable development as well as resilience and wellbeing. The International Youth Day 2015 campaign aims at promoting civic engagement and participation of youth in politics and public life, so that young people can be empowered and bring a full contribution to society, development and peace." says the UN.