Young Seychellois to meet President Obama |03 August 2010

President Barack Obama will host the forum until Thursday, with around 120 young leaders from civil society and the private sector representing more than 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Together with American counterparts and US government officials, the delegates will share their opinions on key themes of youth empowerment, good governance and economic opportunity.

And President Obama will host a meeting at the White House with these young leaders to discuss their vision for transforming their societies over the next 50 years.

Speaking ahead of the departure of the Mauritian and Seychellois delegates at the Centre for Learning in Barkly, Beau Bassin, last Thursday, US ambassador Mary Jo Wills said: “We must prioritise the inclusion of youth in the development of policies and programmes at all levels of decision making.

“Young people themselves are capable of educating and delivering messages to their peers and can be trained to take the lead in the design, implementation and evaluation of youth-oriented programs.

“And I strongly believe that all spheres of government should continuously develop, evaluate and carry out integrated youth policies, making links between the different priority areas for youth development.”

The President’s Forum gives the US government and American friends of Africa an opportunity to deepen and broaden understanding of African societies, and to reflect on how the next generation are building their communities’ and their nations’ futures – just as their predecessors did in the era of independence from colonial rule.

The forum will include small-group discussions on topics such as transparency and accountability, job creation and entrepreneurship, rights advocacy, and the use of technology to empower individuals and communities. African delegates will have a chance to meet grassroots service organisations to share experiences and strategies.

In a statement yesterday, the US embassy based in Mauritius said the US government’s role in this gathering is to encourage networks between young American and African leaders, and to pursue lasting partnerships on behalf of their common security and prosperity.

This dialogue and follow-up events in Africa will help the US government better assess how to support Africa’s own ambitions, it added.