Major Group: Children & Youth
Thank you Honorable Chair,
On behalf of children and youth of Africa, we call for a greater spirit of collaboration locally & internationally to make Africa a priority. Our continent is one that carries the largest burden of problems. Issues such as widespread poverty, corruption of government, high disease prevalence, child labor, & gender inequality adversely affect our peoples.
To add to Mr Noble's point, we suggest that prevention of any problem is always cheaper than its cure. Therefore, we call for serious attention to improving education & employment opportunities in Africa. We are pleased with efforts in a number of African countries to make primary education free & increase enrolment. However, the state of education in African countries should not be measured in enrolment rates alone, but also in the increase of human & institutional capacity as a result of education. More schools in rural areas should be established, taking care to provide adequate sanitation facilities (which is especially important to increase female attendance). Although educational resources should be standardized in rural & urban areas alike, curricula & scheduling for rural students should be designed to specifically meet their needs. And we need to keep educated young people in their home countries by strengthening the job market. We cannot afford to deprive African countries of their most valuable resource.
We urge your acknowledgement of the pivotal role that young people must play in order to achieve sustainable development in Africa. We ask every African government representative here to ensure that at least one youth from your country attends next year's CSD.
Finally, in the midst of globalization & industrialization forces, aspects of indigenous African cultures that comply with universal human rights must be preserved. Sadly, many African people devalue their own culture, & all too readily adopt Western cultural norms, some of which are damaging to individuals, communities and the environment at large. Positive aspects of diverse African cultures have a place in the modern world. For example, an integral part of many African cultures is collaboration. African peoples value partnership & community. Our world needs values such as these. Strengthening African cultures can promote the resilience of communities. As we continue to face complex problems in Africa, our communities will need all the resilience we can get.
On behalf of children and youth of Africa, we call for a greater spirit of collaboration locally & internationally to make Africa a priority. Our continent is one that carries the largest burden of problems. Issues such as widespread poverty, corruption of government, high disease prevalence, child labor, & gender inequality adversely affect our peoples.
To add to Mr Noble's point, we suggest that prevention of any problem is always cheaper than its cure. Therefore, we call for serious attention to improving education & employment opportunities in Africa. We are pleased with efforts in a number of African countries to make primary education free & increase enrolment. However, the state of education in African countries should not be measured in enrolment rates alone, but also in the increase of human & institutional capacity as a result of education. More schools in rural areas should be established, taking care to provide adequate sanitation facilities (which is especially important to increase female attendance). Although educational resources should be standardized in rural & urban areas alike, curricula & scheduling for rural students should be designed to specifically meet their needs. And we need to keep educated young people in their home countries by strengthening the job market. We cannot afford to deprive African countries of their most valuable resource.
We urge your acknowledgement of the pivotal role that young people must play in order to achieve sustainable development in Africa. We ask every African government representative here to ensure that at least one youth from your country attends next year's CSD.
Finally, in the midst of globalization & industrialization forces, aspects of indigenous African cultures that comply with universal human rights must be preserved. Sadly, many African people devalue their own culture, & all too readily adopt Western cultural norms, some of which are damaging to individuals, communities and the environment at large. Positive aspects of diverse African cultures have a place in the modern world. For example, an integral part of many African cultures is collaboration. African peoples value partnership & community. Our world needs values such as these. Strengthening African cultures can promote the resilience of communities. As we continue to face complex problems in Africa, our communities will need all the resilience we can get.