The Ministry of Youth with support from European Union (EU) and other partners on Friday, August 12, 2022, commemorated the International Youth Day at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.
This year’s celebration is themed: “Intergenerational solidarity: creating a world for all ages”. The day marks the contribution of youth to the development of society, and it is also to raise voices against the injustice faced by the youth worldwide.
The Head of European Delegation, Manuel Muller said that
the world increasingly is being threatened by social, political and environmental crises, but the youth need to be aware of these challenges and work together to maintain social stability, democracy and prosperity of our societies.
In that regard, he encouraged the Government of Sierra Leone to continue strengthening public sector audit, including the protection of all to express political concerns peacefully and without violence and without fear.
Muller mentioned that the EU interventions also focused on youth as primary targets, and they are considered as main agents for change. He said the EU has continuously engaged them in environmental activities in the areas of capacity-building, environmental awareness, information and monitoring.
He overemphasized the importance for the young generations to be aware of the causes and consequences of climate change and to be deeply engaged in the protection of the environment.
“Tackling climate changes and ensuring that the natural resources of this
Country are used in a sustainable way, is crucially important.
Most changes on the use of the land are caused by economic
activities. Some of these activities, in particular deforestation,
mining, fishery and agriculture are having very negative effects on
the environment, as they undermine the ecosystems’ ability to
provide nutritious food, clean water and clean air for all,” he said.
He emphasized that the EU would continue to support the youth through its numerous activities directed to impact the livelihood of the young people for them to be seen as change-makers in society.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi said that the voices of the youth should be part of the positive structure for a better Sierra Leone, adding that no one should be left behind in effort to deliver on that aspiration.
He added that the day is important for young Sierra Leoneans to fulfill their potential that must be fully tapped.
He added that COVID-19, Ebola, flooding and global have affected every spectrum of society, and in all of these young people have suffered the most, therefore concerted efforts must made to bring the youth on the table and not shut them out.
The Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa said that young people constitute over half of the population in Sierra Leone, adding that is a major concern for the government to ensure that this critical sector of the population is catered for in a very structured manner.
He stated that the policy of government pertaining the youth is to create an enabling environment that ensure that each and every young person in the country fully realize their potential to the fullest.
By George M.O. Williams