The World Outline
Engaging youth and youth development are topics increasingly gaining attention on the international platform. This past week, President Obama traveled to Africa to address three core points: economic development, democracy and lastly Africa’s youth.
Photo Credit: US Embassy, Kingston, Jamica
In an address he gave in Cape Town, President Obama spoke to Africa’s young people and challenged them to continue Nelson Mandela’s legacy to foster a growing Africa. Obama’s approach to address youth demonstrates a growing acknowledgment of youth’s presence and a realization that youth is not just one sector that can be looked at independently. Youth development is integrated in all other important policies, in the U.S. and abroad. Hence, it is to no surprise that decisions made regarding economic development for example undeniably have an effect on today’s youth and vice versa.
June had been National Caribbean-American Heritage month, recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the U.S. Thus to commemorate this month, The Institute of Caribbean Studies held their fifth Annual Caribbean-American Youth Leadership Forum (CAYLF) at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The theme for this year’s forum ‘Connecting Our Youth’ focused on the youth in the Caribbean and how the U.S. Caribbean Diaspora is increasingly becoming involved and creating ways to promote the development of their communities and countries.
Depending on the institution, youths are identified differently. For example, the United Nations defines youth as individuals between the ages of 15 -24 whereas the IDB extends the age to 30 years old. In 1995, the IDB created the Youth Development and Outreach Program which focuses on responding to the needs of young people and promoting their participation and leadership in the development process.
Read more… http://tinyurl.com/ngh8woo -( http://theworldoutline.com/2013/07/engag
ing-caribbeans-youth/ )
