2010 is The U.N. International Year of the Youth.  Member states have been challenged to find ways of empowering young people to participate their political communities and contribute to the future of their countries. The African Union has joined in with a conference dedicated exclusively to this subject.

Aid communities working throughout Africa were pleases to hear of A.U.’s recent commitment to public policy that fosters youth involvement and empowerment.  Plan UK is one such organization and they have highlighted the importance of this inclusion before.  As goallover reported previously, it is most advantageous to include young people in social planning and organization as a disconnected young population can lead to social unrest and greater problems.

At the 3rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Conference of Ministers in charge of youth (COMY III) Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe delivered a rousing opening speech.  The A.U.’s vision, he recalled, is to see a unified Africa, peaceful and prosperous but most importantly, independent.  In his discourse the President highlighted that self-sufficiency can only be brought about by an educated and engaged youth. The development process needs to be perpetuated by the next generation and emphasis was placed on the equality of male and female children in the education process.

Younger people, he asserted, have a key role to play in four main areas; giving voluntary service, peace building and enhancement of unity; defending and protecting the gains of independence and upholding the vision, hopes and aspirations of the African Union.

New projects have sprung up to support this initiative including funds aimed at revitalizing higher education, setting up the youth volunteer corps and promoting youth interest in science. Under the project, which is being carried out in collaboration with India, 2010 will see training centers spread across Africa.

Plan UK has worked throughout Africa for several years to give children and youth education, representation and a voice.  With several locations throughout the continent, Plan works at the policy level to advocate for young people.  One of their missions is to advocate for positive social change at the governmental level, the more relevant is children’s participation which works at the community level to engage younger people in their communities.

The African Union’s commitment to youth engagement is a step in the right direction and Plan will continue to work in this vein.