Youths in
The Gambia are today joining the rest of the world to celebrate International
Youth Day.
The theme for International Youth Day 2013 is: “Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward.”
The day was set aside by the UN on 17 December 1999, following a recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
It is meant to celebrate the achievements of young people, brainstorm on their challenges and map out the way forward for their successes.
The day provides yet again another unique opportunity to draw attention to the plight of young people, and work towards addressing their challenges.
We, therefore, call on the government, private sector and civil society in general to work together to increase opportunities for youths of all categories.
As we mark yet another International Youth Day, we salute all those organisations and networks which took part in this year’s International Youth Day celebration.
We encourage such organizations to continue creating awareness and advocacy on the plight of young people, especially the marginalized and disadvantaged youths across the country.
Our youths, like others in many parts of the world, need support and care and more efforts are needed to move them out of poverty.
Since youth are our future, we need to support them in their quest to become great achievers in future.