In western countries, children above nineteen years old may be told as they are not belong to their families anymore, they rather belonged to themselves as well as to the world as a whole. In fact, the youths in developing countries are also seen playing as the main driver in overcoming challenges, particularly in realizing development, peace keeping activities, and exercising cultural rights.
The young and communicative girl, Kalkidan Bekele, is 5th year student in Mechanical Engineering at Adama Science and Technology University. She attended the third World Youth Forum held recently at Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, from December 14 -17/2019.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Kalkidan was inspired by the youths, gathered from around the world at one place, who can make things happen, change their lives, create a difference, change their society, and speak for peace and human rights.
“I met lots of people who have lots of experience; we talk about our backgrounds and our journeys towards prosperity. Each people is unique and different; we can learn a lot from them,” Kalkidan pronounced.
“I have planned to take this experience back to my university’s youth club and want to coordinate the Ethiopian youths by creating an initiative which will focus on bringing all together at one place to share experience and discuss on issues of common challenges.”
Kalkidan also says that she could meet new people and create network with those who have new ideas and talent. “We have met Egyptian President Abdulfetah El Sisi, the robot Sophia, and Dina Mufti, Ethiopian Ambassador to Egypt. This gave us the chance to grasp knowledge and new innovation from different kinds of people who have different kinds of cultural background.”
As to her, the main lesson that Ethiopia should take from this forum is empowering the youth. The Ethiopian government needs to incorporate a policy and strategy which helps them to empower the youth at a larger scale.
Kalkidan also called on Ethiopian youths to make a difference for their own country engaging in innovative and problem solving activities other than spending their time in unnecessary places.
Likewise, Yafet Girum Tesfaye, a 2nd year student in Management at Jimma University, and a 5th year student in Computer and Engineering at Adama Science and Technology University, was in attendance at the 2019 World Youth Forum.
Yafet also believes that the forum basically provides a platform to communicate and discuss issues with youths drawn from different parts of the world and from different walks of life. Being an attendant in this forum could help him to take best experience, share ideas from different cultures, he added.
“The youths need to have bright future; if governments could prepare a better ground for the youths to grow, the next generations might taste a fertile living environment which is better than we have at this time,” he commented.
Indeed, the Forum was established in 2017 as a platform to support youth ideas providing ample and adequate space to express and exchange their opinions without barriers and to come up with recommendations for decision makers. Over 7,000 youths from around the world took part in the 2019 edition of 2018 to express their opinions regarding the global challenges facing our world today.
In sum, the Ethiopian government has to establish a platform in an enriching set-up, allowing them to exchange views and recommend initiatives to decision-makers and influential figures.
Such kind forum can be built by promising youth. It sends a message of peace, prosperity, harmony, and progress to the entire world. Real changes can be achieved if the youth could engage with top policymakers, officials and professionals that will determine to make their country a better place for everyone.
The Ethiopian Herald January4, 2019
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
