South Sudan marks World Youth Day
August 12, 2011 (JUBA) – The Republic of South Sudan on Thursday joined the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s international world youth day.
A youth, according to the UN definition, is anyone aged between the 15 to 24 years, but this can increase up to 45 years in some cultures in the world’s newest country.
Today’s youth population constitutes nearly 18 percent of the global population.
While speaking on the, which was based on the theme, “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”, Makuac Teny Yoh, South Sudan’s caretaker minister for youth, sports and recreation acknowledged the challenges youth face today, but urged them to embrace the culture of dialogue as a remedy.
“As young people, you cannot use violence to solve problems you are faced with in your various societies. But I would rather suggest you stick to the culture of peaceful reconciliation through dialogue,” he advised.
The caretaker minister also lauded the youth fraternity for the tremendous role they played in mobilisation during preparations for Sudan’s independence referendum in January.
He said: “As government, we strongly believe the success of witnessed in the referendum process was largely due to your mobilisation efforts, especially at the grass root levels.”
Meanwhile plans are already underway, according to the caretaker minister, for a government-initiated project to revive all dilapidated sports and other youth recreational facilities as part of the highly anticipated South Sudan Development Plan.
Yoh however appealed to the country’s youth to effectively utilise these facilities and desist from anti-social behaviors such as taking drugs, fighting and alcoholism.
Also in the offing, he added, is a government plan to rehabilitate vocational training institutions all over the country so that the youth can actively enroll for courses that will equip them with the necessary skills and experiences.
The United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), one of the partners in the event also reiterated its commitment to promote and protect rights of the adolescents and youth, whereby girls and boys have optimal opportunities to develop their full potential.
“UNFPA promotes life-skills education and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, and HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for young people. In addition, UNFPA acts to empower young women, including adolescent girls and to prevent all forms of gender-based violence,” partly reads a statement.
More than 72 percent of the South Sudan population, according to the draft 2010 Sudan Household Survey, were below 30 years old. However, 45.2 percent of women, it added, are married before the age of 18.
(ST)
Ngundeng
South Sudan marks World Youth Day
Naath people are the best athletes in South Sudan.
Gaador Juat
South Sudan marks World Youth Day
Dear Sport and Youth Caretaker Minister Makuac Teny Yok
Yeah,I agree with your speech that you have delivered on global Youths Day in Juba.Yes,the South Sudanese youth/ youngsters need to be encourage,empower and motivate as to participate fully in national building and developments rather than for RSS Government to left them loitering,lingering,roaming and wandering about in South Sudan due to lack of employments in all fields like agriculture,Army Forces,government institutions instead of those bunch of unqualified opportunist,corruptees,gluttons,money embezzlers and big bellies tribalist who have no single developmental projects in minds.Thus,the idleness of South Sudanese youths encourages others to fall into crimes like cattle rustlers,burglars and widen insecurities in the country.
Cuei Rooi
South Sudan marks World Youth Day
That is the reason why Dinkas stick to fight jallaba without running back to them.Now you people are proud in your country.we have everything in our hand such as gorgoch ni and what have you.