International Year of Youth: SADC Youth Forum Addresses Rise in Youth Unemployment

August 12, 2010 – In December 2009, the United Nations (UN) declared this day forth (August 12th) the beginning of the ‘International Year of Youth’. According to the UN, this initiative is an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, from enhancing peace to boosting economic development.

The theme for the year will be ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding’ as youth bodies encourage all sectors of society to work in partnership with youth and youth organizations to better understand their needs and concerns as well as to recognize the contributions that they can make to society.

The International Year of Youth also comes at a time when global youth unemployment rate is at an all time high. According to a new report recently published by the International Labour Organization (ILO), of the 620 million economically active youth between the ages of 15 and 24, 81 million were out of work at the end of 2009. There was a noticeable increase of over 2% from the 2007 figures of 11.9%, therefore making this the highest rate ever. With economies worldwide still recovering from the last 2 year economic slump, the ILO predicts there will be huge numbers of unemployed youths adding to this number.

In developed countries the ramifications of high numbers of youth unemployment means societies losing their investment in the education of young people, while governments receive fewer contributions to social security systems and must boost spending on remedial services, according to the ILO report. Closer to home in Africa where developing countries account for almost 90% of the world’s youths, the ramifications are much worse, with a serious threat of social disruption. Individually, figures of youth population may more than double by 2050 according to Carl Haub, senior demographer at the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and co-author of the 2009 World Population Data Sheet published a year ago today.

Young people are the drivers of economic development […] Forgoing this potential is an economic waste and can undermine social stability stressed Mr. Juan Somavia, ILO’s Director General.

Far from being the drivers of economic development, with such high numbers of youth population, youths are undoubtedly the building blocks for most developing countries development process.

Read the full International Year of Youth Article HERE or view it below.

International Year of Youth: SADC Youth Forum Addresses Rise in Youth Unemployment

View more Presentations from Contemporary Indigenous Youth Development Africa (CIYDA).

Proper Use of Technology for Empowerement by Youths

CIYDA, amongst other things, born out of the need to maximize the use of information technology to empower Zimbabwean youths it is a welcome remind from one of the most prominent statesman that its misuse can muddy the water leading to conflicting outcomes.

During his address at the Hampton University in Virginia, USA, Mr Obama pointed out how young people are coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don't always rank all that high on the truth meter.

For Africa it has mostly been true that young people are caught up in the media circus such that the 'bread and butter' issues that affect their development is never addressed. In an era when corporate governance should be right up there with corporate reputation the media gate keepers tend to pursue disruptive and divisive agendas which leaves young people questioning the basic fundamentals of their identity and prospective development.

Mr Obama went on to say, "...information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."

Read full article HERE.

Disclaimer: - Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein from other websites, CIYDA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions transferred from other websites and expressed herein are those of the author of the ORIGINAL article and do not necessarily represent the views of CIYDA, CIYDA Executive Director, CIYDA Team or CIYDA Associates.

What is CIYDA
Contemporary Indigenous Youth Development Africa (CIYDA) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. CIYDA is working to develop and empower the youths of Zimbabwe for the benefits of the nation and Africa as a continent through the use of new media, information technology and networking amongst other things. Through these drivers, CIYDA aims to facilitate an information hub and service provision in the areas of Business Start-up, Social & Cultural Integration, Socio-economic Mentoring and Volunteering. Through current globalization trends and dispersion of Zimbabwean youths, CIYDA currently has a network connection of approximately 500 Zimbabwean youths in many countries amongst them, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada.

Employers Lament Incompetence of Graduates

"Education is the greatest engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine; that a child of farm workers can become the President of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given that separates one person from another."

The above words are those of the Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.

Read full article HERE.


Disclaimer: - Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein from other websites, CIYDA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions transferred from other websites and expressed herein are those of the author of the ORIGINAL article and do not necessarily represent the views of CIYDA, CIYDA Executive Director, CIYDA Team or CIYDA Associates.

What is CIYDA
Contemporary Indigenous Youth Development Africa (CIYDA) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. CIYDA is working to develop and empower the youths of Zimbabwe for the benefits of the nation and Africa as a continent through the use of new media, information technology and networking amongst other things. Through these drivers, CIYDA aims to facilitate an information hub and service provision in the areas of Business Start-up, Social & Cultural Integration, Socio-economic Mentoring and Volunteering. Through current globalisation trends and dispersion of Zimbabwean youths, CIYDA currently has a network connection of approximately 500 Zimbabwean youths in many countries amongst them, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada.

The Importance of Building Foundations for Youths

August 24, 2009 - Leaders around the world have been urged to show interest in youth pressure and ways to reduce corruption among the entire society. The call was made by a non governmental organisation (NGO) African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiative (AFPLI)), which is based in the United States and Nigeria.

Speaking at the recent International Youth Day (IYD) celebration in Lagos, titled 'The role of youth in building a peaceful nation', the President of AFPLI, Dr. Titus Oyeyemi, tasked the leaders on the need to build a solid foundation and erect cornerstones for the emancipation of the youth in the new millennium.

The foundation and cornerstones include qualitative, unhindered, uninterrupted education opportunities, full employment, health care system, social security, political stability, provision and maintenance of good roads system, power supply, and communication.

Read full article HERE.

CIYDA Says: With Zimbabwe going through a serious transition the our aspirations for the prosperous future and the success of Zimbabwean youths, together with that of the rest of Africa are strongly aligned with those of Dr. Titus Oyeyemi. Once we turn that corner as a country there is no looking back that is why CIYDA has taken it upon itself to actively advocate for a greater role and consideration of youths in the development of Zimbabwe. With a strong foundation of close relationships between youths, government and corporate sector free from unhindered, uninterrupted education opportunities, full employment, health care system, social security, political stability the future is undoubtedly bright for the Zimbabwean youths.

We should therefore seek to elicit positives from this situation we face as a country and take it upon ourselves to remedy some of the problems that have seen youths marginalised over time. In echoing Dr. Titus Oyeyemi's words, such endevours can only fail to be achieved when those in authority neglect, deny, refuse or fail to build on these new foundations, while instead pursuing selfish agendas, corrupt ambitions and risking shame and blame at the same time.

In its effort to play its part CIYDA is indefatigably working to see to it that it's information hub will meet the needs of every Zimbabwean youth in all possible areas needy of development such as business development, social and cultural integration, mentorship and volunteering, no matter where they are. CIYDA's information hub seeks to guarantee a constant communication platform between government, private sector and the youths.

Disclamer: - Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein from other websites, CIYDA cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Unless otherwise indicated, opinions transferred from other websites and expressed herein are those of the author of the ORIGINAL article and do not necessarily represent the views of CIYDA, it's Executive Director and the CIYDA Team.

What is CIYDA
Contemporary Indigenous Youth Development Africa (CIYDA) is an non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and is based in Harare, Zimbabwe. CIYDA is working to develop and empower the youths of Zimbabwe for the benefits of the nation and Africa as a continent through the use of new media, information technology and networking amongst other things. Through these drivers, CIYDA aims to facilitate an information hub and service provision in the areas of Business Start-up, Social & Cultural Integration, Socio-economic Mentoring and Volunteering. CIYDA currently has a network connection of over 500 Zimbabwean youths in many countries amongst them, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia and Canada.