THE SECOND PAN-AFRICAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP SUMMIT - 18-23 AUGUST 2005, IFRANE, MOROCCO INTRODUCTION

At the generous invitation of H.M. King Mohamed VI over 100 emerging African leaders from all over the continent and various sectors of society gathered for The Second Pan-African Youth Leadership Summit at the beautiful Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco August 18th-23rd, 2005. This Summit was organized through the efforts and collaboration of the Royal Kingdom of Morocco, the office of the Prime Minister of Morocco under the attentive direction of Mr. Driss Geurraoui, the United Nations system - especially the United Nations NY Office of Sport for Development and Peace and the Global Peace Initiative of Women. This Summit marked the 4th in the series of regional over the last 14 months that seek to bring together young leaders who have shown exceptional ability and commitment to develop projects in their regions around the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

For six days these young leaders, a young man and a young woman from each of 50 African nations along with 40 Moroccan delegates, met to discuss some of the challenges facing Africa and the world community. Themes included poverty eradication, environmental degradation, peace, education, health and gender equity. Discussions and training workshops were held on media as well as technology by experts in those fields, Mr. John Cage of Sun Microsystems and Mr. John Yearwood of the National Black Journalists Association. Using sport as an important entry point for youth around the world to take part in peacebuilding initiatives, Djibril Diallo, Chair of the UN Youth Leadership Summit Series and Director of the United Nations NY Office of Sport for Development and Peace worked to organize a much enjoyed volleyball tournament and soccer match that included a wonderful mix of team members from most of the African nations as well as some of the international delegates, men and women.

Also at the top of the agenda was peacebuilding. Discussions led by Dena Merriam, founder of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, were held on creating among the next generation a deep and abiding commitment to peace and stability. At the Summit the delegates formed the “Young Leaders Peace Council” composed of young representatives working toward peace in their regions, included Sudan, Rwanda, Cameroon, the Congo, Somalia, and Sierra Leone. One of the first programs this Council will organize is the Sudan Peace Dialogue in early 2006 in Khartoum. This will bring together 100 young people from the north, south and Darfur regions to involve youth in the current peace efforts.

The University of Al-Akawayn provided the perfect setting in which discussions could take place. A highlight of the opening ceremony on the 18th of August was the joy of 10 young leaders who had been selected to receive a special award for a humanitarian project they had implemented in their nation. With great applause from all the delegates, they were greeted by His Majesty Prince Moulay Rachid and President Abdulaya Wade of Senegal as well as Adolf Ogi, former president of Switzerland and now the Special Advisor to the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace in Geneva, who presided over this opening day.

All present at this Summit extend gratitude and admiration for the warm and often magnificent way in which the Moroccan’s hosted this Summit. Many deep bonds were created that promise to bloom into viable programs and positive new models of development for the great continent of Africa.

We acknowledge the generous support of ITRI, a partner of GPIW, that made possible the participation of many delegates.