JULY-AUGUST 2013 Issue 004, Volume II

THE USAU

OUTH

INSIDE

Young People Must Be Center of U.S.

Africa Policy

USAU Youth Library

Opportunities

Upcoming Events

Did You Know….Let’s Discuss on Facebook - Africa’ s Demographic

Dividend

Tip of the Month

U.S. President Visits Africa, Speaks to Youth

Spotlight On….

Lesotho Graduates Sup-port Programme

(LGSP)

Upcoming Events

A Word to the Wise -

Dr. Ikounga, Commissioner, HRST

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 1

Young People Must Be Center of U.S. Africa Policy

Zeenat Rahman, serves as Secretary Kerry’s Special Adviser for Global Youth

Issues and Director of the Office of Global Youth Issues. In this role, she

works to elevate global youth issues within the State Department and to advance

opportunities for young people around the world. The Office of Global Issues

engages and empowers young people around the world and encourages govern-

ments to respond to youth through U.S. diplomacy.

President Barack Obama’s just-concluded trip to Africa was focused on some of the is-sues you might expect from any presidential trip overseas: strengthening democracy, spur-ring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security. But with Africa’s emergence as a growing economic power, the President employed a strategy on his visits to Senegal, Tanzania, and South Africa that also seemed to recognize something that sets Africa pol-icy apart – the need to engage with young leaders.

It is essential that we connect with – and invest in – the next generation of African lead-ers, and here’s why: on a continent of 1 billion people, more than 60 percent are under the age of 35. By 2050, one-quarter of the world’s workforce will reside in Africa. And six of the top ten fastest growing economies over the last decade are based in Africa. To remain competitive in the global marketplace, America needs to establish partnerships with African countries and Africa’s rising young leaders who are helping to fuel the growth of these economies.

Part of the story behind Africa’s growth is an emerging cohort of young people that are tapping into the global economy both as consumers, but more importantly, as job crea-tors. That is why the United States is reaching out to young African leaders as important allies for economic and democratic progress.

Private sector leaders have also recognized the increasing importance of Africa as an es-sential economic player, evidenced by the fact that the President is joined by a robust delegation of business leaders and investors. To them, building partnerships in Africa is not about just about aid; it is also a strategic move in order for American companies to remain globally competitive.

As Secretary of State John Kerry’s adviser on youth issues, I’ve had a chance to meet doz-ens of these dynamic leaders. For example, a 21-year-old man I met in Uganda started a business incubator giving budding startups access to much-needed resources. Another young woman began a textile co-op, taking artisanal crafts to Western markets.

These inventive leaders, often with scant resources and in restrictive environments, are creating innovative solutions to persistent social and economic

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EDITORIAL NOTE

Welcome to the USAU Youth News-

letter for July and August! In this

edition, we’ll highlight U.S. President

Barack Obama’s recent visit to Africa,

bringing you information about the

different initiatives he launched and

how they will benefit the African

continent, specifically the youth.

Read more on pages 5, 6, and 7.

Want the latest data on African

youth? We’ll share information from

the joint African Union Commission

(AUC) and UN Population Fund

(UNFPA) report on African youth in

our ―USAU Youth Library‖ on page

2. On page 1, we feature an article by

Zeenat Rahman, Secretary Kerry’s

Special Adviser for Global Youth

Issues and Director of the Office of

Global Youth Issues, on why the

youth must be at the center of U.S.

policy in Africa. In the ―Spotlight

On‖ section on page 9, we’ll intro-

duce you to the ―Lesotho Graduates

Support Programme (LGSP),‖ a

youth-led initiative that seeks to em-

power and encourage innovation

among youth in The Kingdom of

Lesotho. In the ―Word to the Wise‖

section, we spoke with Dr. Martial

De-Paul Ikounga, AUC Commis-

sioner of Human Resources, Science

and Technology (HRST), who clari-

fied his Commission’s role in advanc-

ing the continental youth agenda, as

well as detailed HRST’s priorities

during his term. Find out more on

page 10. This month’s ―Did You

Know‖ section will discuss whether

the ―Demographic Dividend‖ (also

known as the Demographic Bulge)

should be seen as a threat or an op-

portunity for Africa. As always,

please share your thoughts with us on

Twitter (@US_AU) and our new

USAU Youth Corner on Facebook!

Happy Reading!

problems. Innovations such as mobile banking, clean burning stoves and renew-able energy, driven mostly by young leaders, are having large scale impact on the conti-nent, and we should tap into that entrepre-neurial spirit and partner with Africa’s best and brightest.

Along with the significant progress on the continent to address global health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and child-hood nutrition, in which the U.S. has played an important leadership role, much work still needs to further the investment in young leaders. Programs that promote training for careers, political participation, and improved access to education and tech-nology are key tools in partnering with Af-rica’s 600 million youth.

This is why in South Africa, President Obama announced the Washington Fellow-ship for Young African Leaders, an expan-sion of his Young African Leaders Initia-tive, a program aimed at bringing thousands of young Africans from across the conti-nent to the U.S. for practical skills training in entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management. They will meet busi-ness leaders and their peers, and deepen partnerships between the United States and Africa.

The United States has an unparalleled track record of innovation, investment and strate-gic partnerships. We must continue that legacy of transparent, productive and mutu-ally beneficial cooperation in Africa through our partnership with the next gen-eration of the continent’s leaders.

Sourced from CNN

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 2

USAU Youth Library

Document: State of the African Youth Report, 2011 Author: AUC and UNFPA Abstract: ―Data from the United Nations Popula-tion Fund shows that in 2010 there were 364 million Africans aged 15–34 years and 209 million aged 15–24 years…Africa’s youth bulge presents an opportu-nity to revive the continent’s socio-economic capital.‖ ―Africa’s commitment to youth develop-ment and welfare was amply manifested in 2006 with the adoption of the African Youth Charter by African Heads of State and Government. The Charter provides a framework for developing and imple-menting more tangible youth policies and programmes. Other key examples of the continent’s engagement with youth in-clude the approval of a plan of action for accelerating the ratification and imple-mentation of the African Youth Charter, the declaration of the period 2009–2018 as a ―Decade of Youth Development,‖ and the approval of a plan of action to implement the priority activities identi-fied during the Youth Decade. The most recent illustration of the continent’s com-mitment was at the 15th Ordinary Ses-sion of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit, held in Kam-pala, Uganda, which adopted ―Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development‖ as the theme for the 2011 African Union Summit.‖ Download the full report here:

Octavio Diogo

USAU Youth Corner on Facebook Get in touch with us! Your voice counts! Engage with us on subjects or topics that

matter to you! Join together in addressing the continent’s

challenges! Stay linked with us on the Facebook page:

―USAU Youth Corner‖

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 3

Do you want to become a ―Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)‖ for less than $200, in order to boost your career?

In an increasingly ―projectized‖ world, professional certification ensures that project managers are ready to meet the demands of projects across the globe. Learn more about PMI’s certifications and find one

that’s right for you. If you already have a credential, get what you need to maintain it, or look into earn-ing another one.

Solidify your skill set and face project challenges head on with a PMI certification.

Click here for more info.

Exchange Programs in the USA

How many USA exchange programs have you ever heard about? Click here for a full list!

2014 Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) at Colombia University

The Human Rights Advocates Program (HRAP) is a capacity building program designed to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and networks of proven human rights defenders at the grassroots level. It is designed for lawyers, jour-nalists, doctors, teachers, social workers, community organizers, and other human rights activists working with NGOs on issues including sexual and gender-based violence, domestic violence, minority rights, labor rights, migra-tion, health, social exclusion, environmental justice, and corporate social accountability.

Application Deadline:

Completed applications are due by 11:59pm GMT on Friday, November 1, 2013. The completed application

must be submitted online by the deadline. Applicants should take into consideration technical issues and begin the

process in advance of the deadline. The online application system will automatically close as of this deadline.

More information is available here.

Georgetown University is announcing a new scholarship for Sub-Saharan African students. These full-tuition scholarships will be awarded to students in the Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) pro-gram. The MSFS is a two-year, full-time graduate degree program in international affairs. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited univer-sity with a strong academic record and must have a TOEFL score of at least 100 or an IELTS score of at

least 7.0. The application deadline for fall 2014 is January 15, 2014.

Read more here.

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 4

DID YOU KNOW … LET’S DISCUSS ON FACEBOOK:

Africa’ s Demographic Dividend

DID YOU KNOW that…

The world’s population, now estimated at 7.2 billion, could reach 8.1 billion by 2025 and up to 9.6 billion by 2050;

Nigeria’s population could surpass that of the United States by 2050;

The ―medium-variant‖ projection of the world’s population in 2050 had increased from 9.3 billion to 9.6 billion;

Fertility had fallen rapidly in recent decades, with several large developing countries, includ-ing China, India, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa, experiencing a rapid decline in the av-erage number of children born per woman;

A number of countries with relatively high levels of fertility, defined as more than 5 chil-dren per woman on average, are located in sub-Saharan Africa; and

Populous countries such as India and Indonesia had been able to reduce their fertility rates by working to provide family planning services, and individuals, when given the choice about their own fertility, tended to respond in ways that reduced population growth.

Sourced from the UN, read the full press release here.

LET’S DISCUSS:

Should the Demographic Dividend (or Demographic Bulge) be considered a threat or an opportu-nity for Africa’s future development? As youth, how can we address the potential issues that may

arise from this ―bulge?‖

Share your point of view online on Facebook: (page name) USAU Youth Corner

TIP OF THE MONTH:

4 Tips for Making the Most of Community Service (and Making It Work for You) 1. Use the expertise you have; 2. Gain the skills you need; 3. Learn from people you admire, and 4. Include people you care about.

Read the full article here.

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 5

U.S. President Barack Obama Visits Africa, Speaks to African Youth

President Obama’s trip to Africa in June was his first extended trip to Africa during his presidency. The 6-day trip, with stops in Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania, had a robust agenda which included meeting with leaders from each country’s government, business sector, and civil society, while also reinforcing U.S. commitment to ex-panding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders. In South Africa, President Obama announced the expansion of his Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), with the addition of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. In Tan-zania, the White House announced Trade Africa, an initiative that will improve trade between countries on the continent, as well as, the United States, and other global markets -- starting in Tanzania’s region, the East African Community (EAC). The White House also introduced Power Africa, another initiative aimed at doubling the access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.

So, how did African youth benefit from President Obama’s visit to Africa?

President Obama Announces the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

―I’m proud to announce a significant expansion of this initiative‖ the President Obama said during his Town Hall meeting with students in Johannesburg. ―We’re launching a new program that’s going to give thousands of prom-ising young Africans like you the opportunity to come to the United States and develop your skills at some of our best colleges and universities. … it’s called the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.‖

President Obama launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in 2010 as a signature initiative that sup-ports young leaders on the African continent as they work to spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across the continent. He has been personally engaged in YALI from the beginning, as his 2010 Presidential Forum with Young African Leaders brought young Africans to the White House for an interactive exchange and dialogue on leadership, youth empowerment, and good governance. An-nual capstone events have helped to build new networks of leaders and underscore high-level U.S. support for their futures – including a 2011 Young African Women Leaders Forum in South Africa with First Lady Michelle Obama and a 2012 Innovation Summit and Mentoring Partnership that brought young Africans to the United States for internships with U.S companies.

―We’ll focus on civic leadership and public administration and business and entrepreneurship, the skills you need to serve your communities and start and grow businesses and run effective ministries. And you’ll interact with Americans from all walks of life, because our citizens -- especially our young people -- can learn from you, too,‖ President Obama stated.

The Washington Fellowship will bring 500 young leaders to U.S. colleges and universities each year for academic and leadership training, beginning in 2014, with the goal of increasing to 1000 participants per year within the next five years. Fellows will receive world-class training and mentoring in three vital areas: business and entrepre-neurship; civic leadership; and public administration.

Continued on Page 6

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They will have access to exceptional opportunities including internships and placements with companies and NGOs and small grants to start businesses, establish or expand non-governmental organizations, or undertake pro-jects to improve their communities.

The leaders’ experience in the United States will include a Presidential Summit in Washington, D.C. where Wash-ington Fellows will interact with U.S. government, civic, and business leaders, including President Obama. It will be an opportunity also to voice their needs, dreams, as well as their ideas.

More than $5 million in small grants will be awarded in the first three years by the U.S. African Development Foundation to Washington Fellows seeking to start their own businesses or social enterprises. The U.S. Depart-ment of State will invest an additional $5 million over the course of the program to help alumni establish or grow non-governmental organizations, undertake a project to improve their community, or work collaboratively to build the network of young African leaders, including reaching into underserved areas. USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs and initiatives on the continent.

Learn more about the Washington Fellowship here.

Trade Africa: Fostering Intra-continental Trade

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report on the Economic Development in Africa 2013, it is noted that trade among African nations is low, just 11.3 percent of total trade in 2011 - thus, the report recommended placing the building of productive capacities and domestic entrepreneurship at the heart of the policy agenda for boosting intra-African trade — African governments should promote intra-African trade in the context of developmental regionalism. (Read the UN report here).

To this regard, President Obama launched Trade Africa, which aims to support the East African Community (EAC) -- Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda — in advancing regional integration, through bilateral and regional trade facilitation. The main objectives of this program are focused on a) Reducing barriers at borders, including by moving to single border crossings and implementing customs modernization programs using innova-tive technologies that allow customs services to communicate with each other; b) Supporting the transition to a single EAC customs and revenue sharing authority; and, c) Addressing barriers to transit that constrain the region’s competitiveness, including reducing the number of roadblocks and the amount of time spent and fees paid to move products from the ports to neighboring borders. Trade Africa presents opportunities for sustained growth and development in Africa, and has the potential to contribute to greater economic diversification.

Learn more about Trade Africa here.

Power Africa: Supporting Investment in Africa’s Energy Sector

When launching the $7 billion Power Africa initiative, President Obama pointed out that a lack of widespread access to electricity is still ―one of the biggest hurdles to Africa’s economic development‖ and called Power Africa a win-win, saying ―[A] growing market in Africa will mean more opportunities for all countries.‖ This initiative is the first of its kind, and helps implement the African Union Commission’s (AUC) new 2014-2017 strategy cen-tered on promoting ―inclusive economic development and industrialization through the acceleration of infrastruc-ture development projects that will aid economic integration.‖

U.S. President Barack Obama Visits Africa, Speaks to African Youth

Continued on Page 7

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UPCOMING EVENTS: Attend the Franglo Young Africa Business Summit 2013!

The Euro FAYA Summit 2013 (European Franglo Young Africa Business Summit) will serve as a meeting point for both Anglophone and Francophone young Africans and Europeans who are spearheading businesses in

their communities that are targeted at the economic development of Africa.

These young leaders, together with investors, representatives of governing bodies, and other business parties, will come together at the FAYA Summit, which will enable them to identify priorities, business actions and strategies

to strengthen potential startups that are part of the growing business prospects in Africa. The forum will strengthen the business partnership links between and among the Franglo youth in Africa and Europe and all

relevant stakeholders interested in strengthening business ties and strategies.

Read more here.

As described, the United States and its partners will work with an initial set of Power Africa partner countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, and the project will also partner with Uganda and Mozambique on responsible oil and gas resources management. Among it benefits, the U.S., through its Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide $285 million in technical assistance, grants and risk mitigation to advance private sector energy transactions and help governments adopt and implement the policy, regulatory, and other reforms necessary to attract private sector investment in the energy and power sectors. Aside from that, the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) will launch a $2 million Off-Grid Energy Chal-lenge to provide grants of up to $100,000 to African-owned and operated enterprises to develop or expand the use of proven technologies for off-grid electricity benefitting rural and marginal populations. Power Africa will also leverage private sector investments, beginning with more than $9 billion in initial commitments from private sector partners to support the development of more than 8,000 megawatts of new electricity generation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Undoubtedly, this initiative is aimed to help increase private sector investment in the industrialization of the con-tinent, which will definitely lead to future job creation, which will benefit the more than half-billion youth on the African continent!

Learn more about Power Africa here. USAU Public Diplomacy Team

U.S. President Barack Obama Visits Africa, Speaks to African Youth

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 8

Theme: ―Energy and Climate Change Post 2015 –Youth Envisioning towards Sustainable Development‖

Date and Location: Arusha, Tanzania, October 6-12, 2013

Individual application forms, as either a delegate or an official participant, can be found here. For any questions concerning the application process, please call (+255) 719 88 54 73 and send completed ap-

plication forms to earmun@yunatz.org with the subject line ―(Name) EARMUN Registration.‖

UPCOMING EVENTS:

AFRICAN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT

―Youth Empowerment, Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation‖

October 27-November 2, 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mission: To create a youth-led roadmap for sustainable development in Africa.

Get more information here.

Regional Youth Green Growth Forum, December 2-5, 2013

The forum will gather 200 youth, between 15-35 years of age, who represent organizations working on sustainable development activities/projects in Africa and internationally.

The forum aims to provide a platform for young people to learn, share, and identify tools to foster inclu-sive green growth in Africa and build partnerships to put these tools into practice in their various com-

munities. Find out more here.

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 9

Lesotho Graduates Support Programme (LGSP) ―A Seed of Development is sown in the Mountain Kingdom ―

Youth unemployment is a critical development challenge in Lesotho. Poverty, which is closely linked to inequality and unemployment, especially among the youth, and HIV/AIDS, will re-main the main challenges to the country’s growth - www.africaneconomicoutlook.org (Lesotho 2012).

In Lesotho, just like other countries in the world who are facing an extremely high rate of youth unemployment and poverty, young people took control of their lives by creating the Lesotho Graduates Support Programme (LGSP) in March, 2012. LGSP is a youth empowerment program whose main objective is to eradicate poverty and overcome unemployment through social integration and global participation. Using youth as a major target group, LGSP shall generally achieve its objective by engaging youth in global projects and activities. LGSP crea-tor and manager, Ms. Relebohile Hlabana, empowers her fellows to explore existing opportunities and matches them with current economic challenges. LGSP is meant to tap into a wide range of opportunities for youth, to include international essay, motion and still picture projects, poetry and music competitions, as well as innovation competitions and mentorship programs which empower young entrepreneurs. The program also seeks out com-munity projects grants, available globally, as opportunities to expose its beneficiaries to global thinking; thereby, boosting their confidence and activating their intrinsic innovative ability to contribute to global solutions. LGSP operates through a Facebook group where information on capacity-building workshops is posted for future leaders (young people). These posts include programs on human rights, culture, entrepreneurship, policy-making, leadership, management, social entrepreneurship, creative writing and many others. These programs are important in equipping future leaders with skills, as their participation in international trainings has a potential to produce a different set of future global leaders altogether. It is inspiring to see the young people that have been motivated by the LGSP Facebook group, as some have even gone as far as posting international funding opportunities for start-up companies in trying to help others achieve their entrepreneurship dreams. LGSP now has about 130 members, most of whom are the young people of Lesotho. Among them, are employed graduates who act as men-tors and assistants in posting opportunities for the group. Currently, LGSP is affiliated with the government of Lesotho’s Department of Science and Technology, working together to create a Science and Technology database for innovative human resources in Lesotho. LGSP appreciates the State’s cooperation and assistance in helping locate young innovators within the country. Given the vast amount of opportunities available for students in schools, where large groups of young people are concentrated, LGSP is taking the necessary measures to ensure adequate access for them. The purpose is to instill an innovative mindset by exposing children in schools to social entrepreneurship and global participation in prob-lem solving, which is seen as a good investment for the future. LGSP shares the views of international programs such as the ―Commonwealth Schools Enterprise Challenge‖ and ―Teach a Man to Fish‖ that believe that educa-tion is the key to tackling global poverty, and who give students the chance to get ―hands-on‖ experience, while also learning practical skills about entrepreneurship.

Sourced from LGSP Communications and Events Management

SPOTLIGHT ON:

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 10

Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, who recently assumed his duties as the Commissioner of the Afri-

can Union Commission (AUC) HRST Department, is charged with overseeing the AUC’s en-

gagement on youth issues across the continent. Commissioner Ikounga, originally from the Re-

public of Congo, has held several political positions in the administration of his country as well

as in its parliament. In this interview, Dr. Ikounga clarified the role of his department in the

continental youth agenda, encouraging African youth to take charge themselves.

USAU Youth: Thank you for taking the time to speak with our staff. As a friend of USAU, we really value your insight and thank you for your time.

Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga: My pleasure and thank you also for the good work so far.

We would like to get to know you a little better; can you briefly tell us about your personal and professional back-grounds - focusing on your involvement in youth-led initiatives or organizations thus far?

I was lucky to be born at a time when there were many changes in my country, so, I have long been involved in

youth movements. As a child, I belonged to the Boy Scouts, religious associations, student association of the

Congo, and President of the Congolese section of the Federation of Black African Students in France (FEANF),

who fought so much for the independence of Africa. In sports, I was a member of the first Congolese handball

federation. Later, I had the chance to be the Minister of Education, and even though I was not in charge of em-

ployment issues, I had an understanding that there was a link between education and employment.

As you just recently took office, can you highlight some of your key priorities for the HRST Department, specifi-cally as it concerns the youth?

The first priority we have to address is the matter of understanding, given that the name of the Commission

(Human Resources, Science and Technology) does not clearly state ―youth.‖ Then, we will concentrate on trans-

forming African youth to become more helpful in the development of the continent – in order to enjoy the demo-

graphic dividend, their energy, and the potential of youth to further the continent, and not become a destructive

problem. Our priority will also be to raise awareness among all African leaders to the problems currently facing the

youth. Finally, there is a need to sensitize youth to the fact that we are all able to invent Africa’s future; we are a

continent with the capacity to invent our future.

Overall, how do you feel the AUC is expecting you to advance the organization’s continental youth agenda?

This must be clear: the AUC is not a state government; rather it is a body that aims to harmonize policies. That's

why when I talked about raising awareness I mean it, for it’s so important. The transformation of the OAU to the

AU created Commissioner positions which actually ask the holder of the title to be much closer to the people ser-

viced by his/her department, to give more space for others to speak, and, through the Summit of Heads of States,

we have the opportunity to be the voice of African youth to decision-makers.

A WORD TO THE WISE : Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga,

Commissioner, Human Resources, Sciences and Technology (HRST) Department, African Union Commission

Continued on Page 10

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The last face-to-face meeting between young people and decision-makers, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee, was beneficial. However, as it is not possible to gather all African youth in a single room, there must always be those who speak on their behalf. We are not an African government – we are facilitators who sound the alarm and voice what African youth are calling for. From peace and security and so on, all the work we do in this de-partment takes into account all those parameters of peace, etc., and from that point of view, the AU is on the right track.

Youth are very complex, and their issues are cross-cutting. Even though all the Commissions are dedicated to youth, it will never solve all of the problems. The most important thing is the pertinence with which we address the problems and the consideration of those issues by those who exercise this policy in the field.

At the ―Youth Connect: Addis Ababa‖ event in May, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed African youth establishing a collective ―legacy‖ as it pertains to their role in advancing Africa. What do you want African youth to take away as your ―legacy‖ from your term as Commissioner of Human Resources, Science and Technology?

I am at the beginning of the term, and I am fortunate that the term is 4 years. What is sure is that the majority of young people now will still be young at the end of this mandate. From the bottom of my heart, I want to work for African youth, to raise more awareness of the power they represent to become a force of change. Taking the example of Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah and the belief they had in advancing to the front of the stage to talk about Pan-Africanism, they had ideas; they had the belief that through actions they could transform Africa. Therefore, African youth must also be aware that it is on the continent and in the continent, that they have a re-sponsibility to move things forward; it is their continent and it is their duty to do so, because others will not do for them.

It is important for the AUC to take into account how the voices of the AU and its resolutions can be better trans-mitted; so we will be working on advancing communication to raise awareness.

We like to end each of our interviews with a ―Word to the Wise,‖ or an opportunity for you, as the interviewee, to offer a word of wisdom to those who are wise enough to hear it. So, what has inspired you?

Youth must believe and play to win. Young Africans must believe that they are capable of creating and being in-

novative. It is solely by minding that fact, that youth can impact their environment and make Africa a winning

continent!

Interviewed by Octavio Diogo

A WORD TO THE WISE

LEADERSHIP CORNER:

―There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being - to help

someone succeed‖

— Alan Loy McGinnis

EDITORIAL DETAILS

The USAU Youth is always interested to hear from you!

Please send your articles, announcements, and/or informa-tion on any subject matter you would like to see in subse-

quent editions of the newsletter to USAUyouth@state.gov, and please don’t miss out on our monthly discussions on

Facebook. Thank you.

U.S. MISSION

TO THE AFRICAN UNION

We’re on the web: www.usau.usmission.gov

‘The USAU Youth’ is a publication of the United States Mission to the African Union Page 12

Editor-in-Chief: Octavio H. Diogo AU Youth Intern, USAU

Translations: Aristid Somda

Contributors: African Union Youth Volunteers Youth Around the World

Chief Editorial Advisor: Jasmine White Political and Public Diplomacy Officer (USAU)

Design/Layout: Lina Mohammed Public Diplomacy Assistant (USAU)

Web Mistress: Lina Mohammed Public Diplomacy Assistant (USAU)

TEL: +251 - 11 - 130 - 6794 Email: USAUyouth@state.gov

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SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Lukman Olawale Jaji, a Nigerian ICT expert, software developer, and co-

-founder of the Nigerian JAVA Group, who invented the ChartApp, a

mobile application on the African Youth Charter (AYC). The app seeks

to publicize and provide quick access to the AYC. When presenting the

almost ready-to-go version during the African Youth Charter Summit in

Tanzania, Lukman stated that Version 1.0 should be launched on August

15, 2013. Congrats and thank you to Lukman for raising awareness of

the AYC as the most comprehensive legal and political instrument for

advancing youth issues on the continent!

You make us proud and show us the power of youth in Africa!