On August 12th the world collectively celebrated the International Youth Day. This year’s international theme, “Change Our World” calls to young people to bring their energy, ideas and courage to the complex challenges facing them and the world. In Uganda, such words of wisdom could not be more appropriate. With the world’s youngest population, Uganda, unfortunately also registers the world’s highest youth unemployment. 53% of the young people between 15-24 years are unemployed. In a recent address to a students’ conference for 33 higher institutions of learning, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda said that Uganda needs to create six million jobs over the next four years in order to absorb the youth coming into the labor market. With such a dire situation it is crucial that we heed the words of world leaders such as Banki Moon, United Nations Secretary-General who in his International Youth Day message 2011 called on nations to invest in young people, “Failing to invest in our youth is a false economy,” “Investments in young people will pay great dividends in a better future for all.”
Young people Celebrating International Youth Day in Gulu
The government of Uganda shared similar sentiments during this year’s celebrations of International Youth Day which were held in Arua, in the West Nile region of Uganda. Under this year’s national theme, “Accelerating Youth Empowerment through Skills Development,” Skills development was emphasised as crucial in assisting youth in the transition to work, equiping them with the skills to become job creators, rather than seekers, and to allowing them greater participation in the social and economic transformation of Uganda.
The celebrations included cultural performances from youth across the country who filled the stadium with color, dancing, and singing. Youth delegations came from far and wide and were joined by fellow youth, politicians, senior civil servants, foreign diplomats, donors, NGO staff, and members of civil society. Also present local celebrities Dorcus Inzikuru (aka the “Golden Gazelle,” Uganda’s fastest runner) and Bobbi Wine (aka the “Ghetto President,” a popular singer) whose un conventional professions serve as an inspiration the young people to think outside the box when planning for their futures.
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