By 
The first two days of the SADC Youth Forum (SAoF) seeded great inspiration in young people and an eye-opening, shedding light on the vital issues that young people across the region are grappling with.
Education, often hailed as the great equalizer, remains at the forefront of our discussions. It’s clear that for youth to truly thrive, education must go beyond the traditional classroom setting. It must be holistic, inclusive, and adaptive to the evolving needs of our societies and this requires substantial investments and a commitment from governments to deliver on their promises.
Zimbabwe Youth Council representative Sungano Chisina said,” SAoF is driving young people to become Pan Africanists through drilling African ideology into them”.
SAoF and Speaker SADC Parliament Patience Manyenyembe also remarked that, “We are not just discussing ideas but we are a generation to a new era to ensure that our development is sustainable in transforming the world.
Let’s build the future we want with our own hands and minds for we are the top beared of the movement to drive change we wish to see”.
SADC-PF and Youth Patron H.E Boemo Ndu Sekgoma also said, ” A recurring theme has been the importance of Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE). We can no longer afford to treat youth participation as a box-ticking exercise or mere tokenism. The upcoming session on the SADC Youth Protocol is a crucial moment where we will explore how to embed youth voices at every decision-making level. The time for passive engagement is over—young people must be active participants in shaping the policies that affect their lives. Climate change and the development of green cities have also featured prominently in our conversations. As the most impacted generation, young people have a unique perspective on these issues, and it’s essential that their voices are heard. Additionally, the digital landscape is rapidly changing, and the need to protect and promote digital rights for young people comes with it. These are not just future concerns but present realities that demand our immediate attention.
When do we truly give young people the opportunities they deserve? This question has echoed throughout our sessions. The 4 As—Aptitude, Attitude, Awareness, and Action—offer a framework for youth to lead and implement change. These pillars should guide our efforts as we push for a more inclusive and equitable future. As we move forward in this forum, we are eager to continue these critical discussions, particularly on the SADC Youth Protocol and how we can ensure it reflects the true aspirations of young people. The work ahead is challenging, but the energy, passion, and commitment we’ve witnessed here leave us hopeful”.
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