International youth day celebrations delayed in Jonglei
August 13, 2013 (BOR) – Jonglei state’s ministry of youth, culture, sport and heritage has delayed celebrations of international youth day from Monday 12 August until Saturday 18 August to allow more time for the event to be organised and funded.
The event will be the first time international day is celebrated in Jonglei since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011.
“We need to celebrate in that day so that our youth will be very proud and thinks that our government and our ministry take care about us,” minister Konyi said.
The acting director general in the ministry of youth, sport, culture and heritage, William Garang Majok, told Sudan Tribune that his ministry wants more young people to be made aware of the event so they can participate.
Majok said the ministry expected support from the state government and other agencies, including United Nations Children’s Fund – Unicef.
In his meeting with members of the youth unions and civil society groups, Majok advised youth leaders to promote the event to their youth associations so that there is a good turn out.
He urged South Sudan’s young people to be united and take part in nation building, adding that it is only through peace and unity that Jonglei can becomes a free state.
According to Majok, youth – defined as anyone under 45-years-old in South Sudan – makes up 73 percent of the population, according to a 2008 census.
International youth is supposed to give special recognition to the role of young people in society and raise awareness of the problems they face and how to address them.
“It is a recognition made by the United Nations, that means it focus on the affairs of the youth, it also creates an opportunity to draw attention to youth issues world”, said Majok.
(ST)