During the 1st African University for Youth and Development the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr José Maria Neves, promised that the country will ratify the African Youth Charter. Cape Verde will be the 15th country to ratify the charter, which will thereby enter into force.

 

In the frame of the University 15 European Youth Forum participants participated in the 6th Africa-Europe Training Course. The participants had high expectations and went through a series of challenges in a tough process leading up to a declaration from the Training Course. The declaration was in the end endorsed by the other participants in the University and handed over to the Prime Minister during the closing ceremony. 

 

During the week the African and European participants in the training course went on field trips and got to visit young activists, youth centres and an SOS Children's Village. One of the conclusions was that the Government of Cape Verde and donor countries often initiated funding or established projects which were really good in the beginning but not sustainable due to lack of funding. In the declaration they both focused on strong demands to the African and European Governments and on how we as youth organisations can contribute to the Africa-Europe cooperation.

 

"I wish our European political leaders were as committed and as eager to work with and for youth as they are in Cape Verde", says YFJ Vice President Christoffer Grønstad, who followed the University on behalf of the European Youth Forum.

 

The University would not be possible without the tremendous efforts of the team of the Council of Europe North-South Centre, and during the closing event the Executive Director of the North-South Centre, Mr Denis Huber, was also present. He received a challenge from the European Youth Forum.

"The African Youth Charter establishes rights and responsibilities for young people all over Africa. In Europe we are jealous - we also want a European Convention on Youth Rights, and I hope our friends in the North-South Centre takes this opportunity to learn from our African partners", the YFJ vice-president said in the closing panel.

 
--------------------------------------------------------
And more... Wild-life Africa

Living on one of the most beautiful beaches of Cape Verde the participants could enjoy the best sea-food meals every day. They saw the catch of the day on the beach, when it was taken into the restaurant and on the dinner plate. 

 

For one participant this was just not enough, and Quentin from EEE-YFU took an extra close look on the local wild-life:

 

"We had a late night swim and saw a school of fish, so I decided to swim amongst them", Quentin said. Result: 3 bones of a back-fin got stuck in his nose and he had to visit the local nursery to remove them.

 
Picture: Fish-Man: During the lunch the day after the participants were all looking for the fish with the missing fin-bones, and for the local kids on the beach Quentin will for ever be "Fish-Man"...

Read more:
- Declaration of the 1st African University of Youth and Development