Pretoria - Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, youth development and administration, Buti Manamela, is to participate in the first Africa Region Commonwealth Youth Minister’s meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The meeting kicks off on Sunday and will conclude on Tuesday.
The first of its kind at Africa regional level, the meeting brings together ministers responsible for youth affairs, senior government officials, youth representatives and other invited stakeholders from Commonwealth countries in Africa.
During the meeting, delegates will focus on regional and global youth development challenges and opportunities, including new global development goals for 2015 and beyond.
Delegates will take stock of current trends in youth development in Africa and identify strategies and priorities for future action to advance youth empowerment in the Commonwealth.
“This meeting comes against the in the backdrop of South Africa's policy formulation process. The draft National Youth Policy was released in January 2015 for comment and consultation,” said the Presidency on Friday.
Deputy Minister Manamela will give a keynote address at the Minister's meeting focusing on the significance of National Youth Policy formulation and professionalisation of youth work
"We are going to Yaoundé to share experiences with the other Commonwealth countries and to learn from them about best practices inspired by the African Youth Charter in proffesionalising youth work as well as enhancing the formulation of youth policies" said Deputy Minister Manamela.
The Deputy Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of senior officials from government, the National Youth Development Agency as well as the South African Youth Council. – SAnews.gov.za
