UN Youth Advisory Group calls for action to empower youth as the driving force of today

Chairperson of the UN Youth Advisory Group (YAG), Samesther Hannah Kargbo, today used a high-level session with development partners and the government in celebration of International Youth Day (IYD) and the launching of the regional dialogues for a call to action, reminding the youth that they are not just the leaders of tomorrow but the driving force of today. 

Speaking at the UN Country Team (UNCT)-organized programme held at the New Brookfield's Hotel, Freetown, she said her generation faces unprecedented challenges and highlighted climate change, social inequalities, and the ongoing impact of global pandemics among these. 

Samesther commended the UNCT for "establishing the UN YAG, noting that their role is to amplify the voices of young people to ensure that their perspectives are integrated into the policies and decisions that shape the country and the UN.

Using the theme of the IYD, Samesther called for recognizing that the path to a sustainable world lies in equipping the youth with the essential green skills required to address the pressing challenges of our time.

In his remarks, United Nations Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi said the critical role of youth in shaping the present and future of the Mama Salone we all want for ourselves and the generation yet unborn cannot be overemphasized, adding that they belong to the demographic that has often been left behind the furthest.

 "They are mostly unemployed, illiterate, and unskilled, let alone talk of decent jobs. In decision- making in most instances, their views or a seat at the table matters less or is non-existent at all," he maintained.

Mr Ahonsi decried that drug abuse, particularly kush, is compounding this worsening situation for the Sierra Leonean youth today and that it has the potential of eroding the gains made towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in addition to the lingering economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global impact of the Russia-Ukraine situation.

He informed the audience about the setting up of the UN YAG this year and that they will be working with the UNCT "in the actualization of the development aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone with youth having a seat at the height of the table."

Minister of Youth Affairs Mohamed Orman Bangura opined that the country's present and future are left in the hands of the youth and called for the UN to support their aspirations. 

In her welcome remarks earlier, the UNFPA Country Representative and Chair of the Youth Thematic Team said the dialogues initiated are aimed at providing open and inclusive platforms to hear from diverse groups of young women and men across the country, including on issues of agriculture, climate change, health, and upskilling.

Poetry recitation, a panel discussion, musical performances, and an exhibition also formed part of the event.

The UN YAG will lead efforts starting in Makeni on September 12, Kenema on September 18, Bo on September 25, and Port Loko on October 2 to organize four regional dialogues targeting 200 youth across four priority areas: agriculture and use of natural resources, climate change education, health, up-skilling, and youth economic empowerment. 

With community ownership, the Minister called for initiatives to be driven by young people and ended with a call for a conversation around the issue of drug abuse, particularly kush. 

Views, concerns, and perspectives put forward by young Sierra Leoneans from the event and forthcoming regional youth dialogues will be fed into the data and analysis that will inform the development of the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2025-2028) for Sierra Leone. 

The composite report from the dialogues will also be shared with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to factor its contents into the ongoing development of the country's next Medium Term National Development Plan (2024-2028).