There are very few places where one engages with the tangible hope in the aspirations of young people like at the YouthConnekt Africa summit. It’s in their voices when they speak with conviction, sharing their achievements and ideas on how to chart new ways of working. It’s in their eyes and their relentless energy.
This last week, Kigali convened over 5000 young people from different walks of life – some students, some entrepreneurs, community leaders, and organisers, for the 7th edition of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit. And what an honor to take part and contribute to shaping Africa’s future!
Whilst I have had the privilege to sit in and experience a few of these, they always feel new. What stood out the most for me this year was the clear ownership of young people in setting the agenda and delivering solutions.
This year, young people showed us their leadership by engaging with the Heads of State Intergenerational Dialogue. They demonstrated new and scaleable solutions to Africa’s skilling challenge hashtag#YearofEducation. They also showed, through the YouthConnekt hashtag#Africa hashtag#Export Accelerator and Buy from Africa marketplace – that they are already leading small-scale production of Made in Africa products. They brought concerted asks to the table – defining how the hashtag#AfCFTA – our African framework for intra-African trade – can serve them better.