WINDHOEK: A delegation comprising 90 young Namibians led by Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service Emma Kantema-Gaomas participated in the 2024 World Youth Festival (WYF) from 01-07 March 2024 in Sochi, Russia.
The WYF is the largest youth event in the world held by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The festival hosted 20 000 young Russian and foreign leaders and serves as a platform for youth empowerment, cultural exchange and discussions on pressing global issues.
On 03 March the deputy minister participated in the Global Forum of Young Diplomats, a side event of the WYF 2024, where she said: ‘Namibia is committed to turning the youth bulge into an opportunity, by intensifying efforts in implementing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an Africa where development is people-driven, relying particularly on the potential offered by its youth.’
She also said that harnessing demographic dividend is not without its challenges, adding that it requires strategic investment in
education, employment and empowerment, particularly of young women and men.
She further said that, as the world discusses the democratic dividend in Africa, they should consider that Africa is the youngest continent. By 2050, it is projected that Africa’s youth population (aged 15-24) will be more than double the 2015 total of 226 million.
‘Namibia is fostering environments where innovation can thrive by promoting an entrepreneurial atmosphere, and providing platforms for skills development. The aim is to ensure that every young person in Namibia can contribute meaningfully to our nation’s prosperity,’ Kantema-Gaomas added.
She also said that to this end, the Russia-Africa partnership plays a critical role in this developmental journey, adding that the collaborative efforts in education, technical training, and cultural exchange programmes have been invaluable in enhancing the capacity of young people.
The festival covered different fields such as business, media, international cooperation, culture, scien
ce, education, volunteering and charity, sports and various areas of public life.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency