The Youth Alliance Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) conference has officially opened today at the United States International University (USIU) campus.
The four day conference will tackle issues that focus on empowering youth for sustainable development in Africa though a Pan-African perspective. Delegates from various countries in Africa are expected to participate and will be introduced to operations of the African Union (A.U) as well as to ideas and ideologies of Pan-Africanism. The youth will also be introduced into the culture of deliberating productively in the interests of Africa through instructive dialogue, cultural exchange and diplomatic negotiations on African issues.
Unemployment and the inability for the growing African continent to effectively incorporate the economic participation of its youth and the social challenges this poses will be on the agenda.
The inaugural conference also seeks to familiarize the participants on the workings of the African Union-from the roles delegates have representing different African member states to the rules of procedure, to formation of committees and drafting resolutions-which in turn fosters a culture of leadership and of policy makers.
The Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) is an international network of youth (18-30 years) formed in 2004 by a group of Harvard students, born and raised in Africa.
YALDA’s objective is to make a positive impact in the social, economic and political development of the African continent through the development of young African leaders and making use of inter-generational synergies whilst outlining the importance of not just nation state solidarity, but continental solidarity and a sense of African unity as per the Pan-African ideology.