AU sends youth volunteers to S. Africa for training

More than 200 youths from 54 African countries began their training in South Africa on Wednesday to prepare for volunteer work in the continent.

"It is our view that the AU Youth Volunteer program is inspired by the conviction that youth volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development," South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Luwellyn Landers said at a launch ceremony in Johannesburg.

Everyone can contribute his or her time and energy towards peace and development of the continent, Landers said.

He encouraged the African youth to work for the development of the continent.

The youths would be deployed in countries other than their own where they would be attached to some organisatuons, working as volunteers.

Landers said the South African government fully supports youth volunteerism initiated by the AU.

The programme is part of the AU's collective commitment to capacity building in pursuit of the Pan Africanist ideals to which South Africa subscribes, Landers said.

South Africa's foreign policy is anchored in the ethos of Pan Africanism, advocating for the regional and continental integration and growth, said Landers.

He said even the country's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is and has always been Pan Africanist.

The head of the Youth Development in the African Union, Dr Beatrice Khamati Njenga, told Xinhua that they want to mould the youth so that they will not wish to leave Africa and work outside the continent.

She said,"We want to develop young Africans to have a positive orientation of the Pan Africanist, volunteerism and positive initiatives while building employability. We want to develop skills and provide a platform for the young professionals to contribute towards the continental developmental policy."

The youth would spend one year attached to the organisations across Africa learning and providing free services.

"After a year we expect the young Africans to be ambassadors of the AU, have common African values and understand Africa from experience. They will get certificates and the volunteerism would improve their curriculum vita as you know there is a problem of unemployment in Africa,"Dr Njenga said.

The youths would form a youth think tank to be the source of knowledge about the AU, she said.

"We want them to be the AU youth think tank and the continental youth voice. We want to create a standby youth force comprising of young professionals who would be called upon in times of need,"Njenga said.

Twenty-year-old Thabitha Sindani from Kenya said she is proud to be providing voluntary service to the continent.

"This assists us to embrace humanity and preserve our identity and make Africa a better place. This would help the youth of Africa to have a positive mind and wish to change Africa for the better,"Sindani said.

Arife Mohamed from Ghana said she is more than ready to work anywhere else on the African soil to make it a better place.

"It's good to be together with other youth from different countries to learn skills which we will implement in our own countries after a year. We are all working towards one developed and perfect Africa which we all want to live in,"Mohamed said. Endit