“Youths are the leaven of development for a better life, if we wish to have a peaceful world we have to involve young people, listen to them and work with them”. According to Fatina Kiluvia, Program Analyst - Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, UNFPA Tanzania
On August 11, GEPF Tanzania gathered over 200 students from various schools and colleges in the Dodoma Region as well as youth from partnering organizations to participate in a Youth Symposium under the theme, “Involvement and Participation of Youth in Maintaining Peace.”
The Deputy Minister Mr. Anthony Mavunde from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Youth and Disabled encouraged youth to use social media in positive ways that maintain peace saying, “Social media is not a platform to insult others. This habit is not acceptable. It must stop.”
“The education sector and technology play an important part in maintaining peace in the country. The aim of providing young people with particular civic education is to ensure young people become patriarchs and appreciate their nationality. But also to build young people the habit of mutual respect, appreciation for the person's personality and to have disciplined and moral young people. The government continues to provide this education in collaboration with United Nations and Institutes agencies far more in providing youth Resolution Training. This is particularly important in ensuring that young people can control anger management and also gain communication skills between them and the community around them. it is also well-educated that the best use of information technology should be given in mind that misuse of information technology can cause serious disasters and disrupt social peace.” According to The Deputy Minister Mr. Anthony Mavunde from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Youth and Disabled
Representatives from UN Tanzania provided background and education on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the importance of youth in taking ownership of their implementation. “This day is very important for us young people, since it has a major focus on promoting and educating the importance of the presence and contribution of youth in development. When we celebrate this International Youth Day for 2017, the focus is on the global goals for sustainable development (Particularly Goal no #16, and also #13,and #8) align with the theme "Youth in Peace keeping" in which Tanzania says "Youth Engaging in Pursuing Peace". According to Nafisa Didi Communications Officer, Resident Coordinator Office UN Tanzania.
“Dear Youth; You have the responsibility to protect yourself and to protect your nation from avoiding conflicts, be in the forefront to carry productive roles and to avoid corruption practices. It is your responsibility to seek the best education and design, it is also your responsibility to protect yourself from diseases by seeking appropriate health care information and services (especially reproductive health), to maintain peace for sustainable development”. According to Fatina Kiluvia, Program Analyst - Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, UNFPA Tanzania
GEPF Tanzania Director Martha Nghambi highlighted the role of youth in contributing to peace building campaigns, introducing GEPF initiative “Vijana Na Amani,” or “Youth and Peace.” The campaign provides leadership education and entrepreneur workshops to raise young people with moral and innovative leadership capacities to counter youth involvement in violent extremism prevalent across the nation.
The United Nations’ (UN) International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 each year to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities.
Many activities and events that take place around the world on International Youth Day promote the benefits that young people bring into the world. Many countries participate in this global event, which may include youth conferences on issues such as education and employment. Other activities include concerts promoting the world’s youth, as well as various sporting events, parades and mobile exhibitions that showcase young people’s achievements.
