As we celebrate International Youth Day today under the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” the Youth Bridge Foundation reflects on our 2022 annual African Youth and Governance Convergence (AYGC).
Themed “Harnessing Technology and Digital Innovations to Advance Africa’s Youth Development Agenda,” the AYGC, Lusaka 2022 pathway was conceptualised and held as the world began to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic; we saw an acceleration in the use of technology to maintain and rebuild connections amidst extreme adversity.
During the convergence that brought together 50 youths from 20 African countries and the Diaspora, delegates, amongst other proposals, urged the African Union and other stakeholders to make conscious efforts “to invest more in equitable skills training in digital technologies” for youth “without any geographical or disability limitation or discrimination” and “to harness technology to drive youth development”.
Informed by this important call from the youth delegates, the Foundation initiated the Youth Tech Bridge, a conscious effort to address the technological gap between youth in rural and urban areas whilst developing an integrated IT programming
The Foundation has, in 2024, capitalized on the tenets of digital innovation to ‘connect youth voices beyond borders’ by establishing the West Africa Youth Advisory Board.
Connecting with the themes of AYGC 2022, the UN SDGs, and this year’s IYD, the Youth Bridge Foundation wishes to place emphasis on a clear and cohesive vision reinforced by delegates of the 2022 AYGC that technology is not just a tool but an important bridge to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable today.
We therefore call on the AU and its Member States to streamline processes that foster digital innovation for a youth development agenda.
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