CYP Africa celebrates the Commonwealth Day

The 150 guests in attendance were representatives of the Namibia, Nigeria and Botswana High Commissions, national assembly, development partners, pupils and teachers from Lusaka and the other 8 provinces of Zambia, CYP RCA beneficiaries, staff as well as the media.

The programme included opening remarks by the Regional Director, CYP Africa James Douglas Odit and a speech by the guest of honor, Hon. Kenneth Chipungu, MP Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development. The programme also included testimonies from youth who have benefited from the center’s youth development programmes.

According to the Regional Director of CYP Africa Mr. James Douglas Odit, the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day, ‘The Commonwealth@60 – serving a new generation is indeed fitting as Young people form a large proportion of our population. The Commonwealth realizes the enormity of the problems that young people face and the impact such problems have on the youth and also on the nation as a whole. Indeed the cost of inaction on the issues of youth development is too dreadful to contemplate.

Mr. Odit urged Governments, NGOs and various stakeholders to join hands in promoting youth development as the youth are the future of the commonwealth. “ Investing in our youth means future prosperity for our nations; hence it is vital for governments, NGOs and various stakeholders to create an enabling environment for our youth to be able to fulfil their full individual potential and to make maximum possible contribution to national development.” he said.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Odit thanked the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development for its continuing efforts to address the challenges faced by the young people and to harness their youthful energies into productive out puts.

Congratulating the commonwealth youth programme for its contribution to youth development in the Africa region, the guest of honour, Hon. Kenneth Chipungu, MP Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development stated “My Ministry is pleased to see the great strides being made by the commonwealth secretariat in addressing the underlying causes of youth problems by working with countries in crisis to promote youth development, Political emancipation and social satiability, thereby realising the full potential of these young people and indeed serving the new generation.”

Hon. Kenneth Chipungu further added “Within the commonwealth, young people are perceived as sleeping giants that need to wake up for their economies to grow, and to drive forward. The commonwealth realises that the challenges facing Africa can not be overcome without the involvement of young people. This is evident in the manner it has engaged young people in the mainstream of society. Our government will continue to work with partners who attach such interest in the development of our future generations.”

A number of activities were organized for the whole day involving young people. Among other activities was the commonwealth quiz in which six Lusaka schools contested. The winners of the quiz were the Munali girl’s high school who won a trophy and gift vouchers.

Zambian musicians Slapdee, the acapella group BFAS from Lusaka high school, and Wiza, an upcoming artist from the University of Zambia graced the occasion with electrifying performances. These artists were loudly cheered by the young people, who obviously appreciated their presence at the Event.

The Event as a whole was moving, full of enthusiasm and educative. The young people indeed enjoyed themselves.