On 18 March 2016, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi, joined over 60 young leaders from Zambia at a national youth dialogue on the Sustainable Development Goals convened by the United Nations Country Team in Zambia. In his interaction with a diverse group of young people, which included youth activists, entrepreneurs, refugees, and artists, Alhendawi focused on the importance of youth contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He encouraged young people in attendance to learn, educate their fellow youth, and take action towards the realization of the SDGs.
Later in the day, Alhendawi visited the UNFPA supported Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia. Alhendawi also met with the Youth Action Movement, which was created by the association, and engaged in informal dialogue on the importance of sexual and reproductive health services.
Youth Envoy visiting UNFPA supported Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia.
and also visiting African Direction Youth Center in Lusaka supported by the UN.
The meetings of the Envoy on Youth continued with a visit to the UN supported African Direction Youth Development Center, a non-profit organization established in 2000. Over the past 16 years, the Center has been working at the community level and also offering national programmes using arts, recreational activities and sports as an entry point to engage with young people on matters of social responsibility and health. Alhendawi commended the efforts of the center and highlighted the importance of community-based approach on youth empowerment through targeted skill development and education.
On the following day, Alhendawi visited the towns of Kanakantampa and Chongwe, where he met with young farmers and entrepreneurs. The Envoy visited a fish hatchery supported by the ILO and FAO where he stressed the importance of creating youth-friendly business environments and facilitating access to credit and land for young farmers and entrepreneurs. Alhendawi and the delegation concluded the 2-day engagement with the youth of Zambia by attending a He4She concert organized by the United Nations to promote gender equality in the country.
