You may have heard that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow. The phrase is as old as those saying it. But times have changed and so is the phrase. As the days go by, the youth are rising to the occasion of realizing that the mantle of leadership lies with them.
Every nation is defined by how it values its young generation. The young generation is the now and the future. It is through taking care of the young generation that a nation strengthens its foundations for growth.
The National Youth Week
The Kenya National Youth Week has kicked off with the climax expected on August 12, 2020, during the celebration of International Youth Day.
The State Department for youth affairs in collaboration with key state and non-state actors will mark and celebrate The Kenya National Youth week from 6th – 11 August 2020 with all the youth in Kenya expected to take part.
“The build-up activities and the launch will commence on the 6th August 2020 with a Kikao Forum at the Ongata Rongai (Talanta Social Hall ) in Kajiado,” said the State Department in a statement.
The National Youth Week is an annual event, which provides an opportunity for young people to recognize and celebrate their potential.
The week gives the wider community an opportunity to listen to young people and acknowledge their positive contributions and achievements made by them in developing themselves and their communities.
In signifying the importance of youth, the United Nations General Assembly in 1999 declared International Youth Day as a day when youth around the globe will be celebrated as a critical segment that composes the human population as well as contributes to human development.
Therefore, International Youth Day (IYD) is an annual event observed globally on 12th August in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 54/120.
Events during the National Youth Week and the IYD usually include talk shows, roundtable talks, concerts, fairs, festivals, exhibitions, and sporting. Due to the Covid-19, this year’s event will be virtual and streamed live.
The theme for International Youth Day 2020 “ Youth engagement For Global Action” This theme is anchored on the sustainable development goal (SDG) no, 8 on the need to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
According to the State Department, the youths are an essential component of our nation’s development and a key driver in the realization of Kenya’s Big Four Agenda, Vision 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
At the same time, the youths are a national resource as they present an opportunity for faster economic growth when engaged productively. In setting the national development agenda, the government includes the youth in relevant planning and transformative processes.
“There is a need to prepare youth for global citizenship and to make them understand the wider world and their place in it,” said the Department.
Today’s launch will be live on Facebook through https://www.facebook.com/StateDepartmentforYouthOfficial
It will also be Live on Citizen TV. Tune in.