SPEECH BY THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY YOUTH ORGANIZATION
(EACYO) TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT PAUL KAGAME ON 8TH,
APRIL 2011 KIGALI RWANDA
Your Excellency President Paul Kagame,
Honorable Minister of Youth,
Honorable Minister of EAC affairs,
Executive secretaries of the National reconciliation and fight against genocide,
EAC Deputy Secretary General and Patron of EACYO, Mr. Alloys Mutabingwa,
Youth from East Africa,
Ladies and gentlemen,
All protocols observed
I would like to begin, on behalf of East African Community Youth Organization,
by expressing our profound gratitude for the hospitality of the Rwandan
government through the Ministry of Youth as they have actively organized all
aspects of our visit to Rwanda. We would also like to thank you for making time
to meet us despite your busy schedule, especially in the course of this week.
Your support to EACYO is greatly appreciated. We shall not take it for granted
and we shall do our best to maximize this opportunity you are giving us today.
We would also like to express our admiration for your strong and visionary
leadership. The progress since 1994 is considerable. It is a real inspiration for the
Youth, the African continent, and the world at large.
Since Rwanda joined the East African Community, the Deputy Secretary General
Mr. Alloys Mutabingwa, who you nominated, became a key spring-board and
pioneer for youth mainstreaming into EAC integration. He has also become the
first Patron of EACYO and we would like to take this opportunity to appreciate his
help and guidance. Thanks to your wise selection of team that puts your vision
into action, today the youth have space and a voice in the people-centered EAC
integration.
The youth in EAC, Africa and the entire world take you, Mr. President, as their
icon, steward and guardian.
Your Excellency, we wish to take a moment to acknowledge your support
to the Youth. Some of the measures you have put in place to ensure youth
development include the establishment of a Ministry of Youth, the creation
of a National Youth Council and structures up to grass-root level, Youth
mainstreaming in leadership at all levels, Youth in business by supporting youth
micro-finance, Education and skills development, and the support to the Council
of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), only to name a few.
Your actions reveal your faith in the youth, as well as your just appreciation of
the immense potential that we constitute as the Youth.
Your Excellency Mr. President,
To briefly introduce our organization, East African Community Youth Organization
(EACYO) is a non-governmental, non-profit making Organization which intends to
create young people’s engagement in the realization of the goals and objectives
of the East African Community, the exploitation of shared opportunities for the
benefit of the East African dwellers, and ultimately, the creation of a people-
driven East African Federation.
Your Excellency Mr. President,
The importance of EACYO is outlined in article 120 of the Treaty establishing the
East African Community, which calls upon Partner States to involve marginalized
groups, including the Youth, in activities of the East African Community. EACYO
therefore exists to operationalize Article 120 of the EAC Treaty.
All the members of EACYO are committed to give their best to build a strongly
motivated generation of citizens ready to serve their nations and the EAC region.
EACYO has to be established as a strong structure that will outlive its founding
members and serve the generations to come.
Your Excellency, as you may be aware, the period from 12 August 2010-2011
was declared International Year of Youth. It was launched with the theme of
Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. Its slogan “ Our Year, Our Voice” reminds
us that Youth can actively participate in national, regional and global decision
making processes, and lead the way towards finding innovative and sustainable
solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of today’s time. We are
gathered here to show our solidarity for peace, for a strong and sustainable EAC
of today and tomorrow.
However we still need assistance from our leaders, elder brothers and sisters.
We are looking for role-models, people who inspire and motivate us. You Mr.
President you are our role model; also Our patron, Mr. Mutabingwa, has already
done a lot in that respect and we are thankful for his continued assistance.
Your Excellency Mr. President,
A lot still needs to be done but we know that, with your support, our goals shall
be achieved.
The Youth of East Africa would therefore like to request your support for the
establishment of a regional secretariat of EACYO which will enable us to
create a regional youth network. The type of support we are requesting, Your
Excellency, is two-fold.
First, we need financial support to set up an office with all the necessary
equipment and staff to carry out the activities of the Secretariat.
Second, we need capacity-building. We have the passion and determination to
participate to the development and transformation of our region. We need to
be empowered to strengthen our capacities and our skills, to build trust and
confidence in order to fully participate and make tangible impact. Leadership
training programs would greatly help to achieve such goals.
Your Excellency Mr. President,
Our second request is for you to sponsor the East African Youth Football
Tournament. This will not only contribute to an increased visibility of the youth,
but also to and peace-building among youth of East Africa.
Your Excellency, it will be unfair if we don’t speak about Rwanda genocide.
In 2010 East African Community Youth Organization in collaboration with
the Rwanda Diaspora in Arusha Tanzania organized a walk to remember that
included over 700 youth with a theme: Rwanda genocide; never again. This
year’s messages is “upholding the truth; preserving our dignity”. We also find
that it is very important to spread this message to the Youth of East Africa and
Africa at large.Commomeration reminds us about our responsibility to promote
Peace, Call upon all those contesting for presidency in Africa to visit Rwanda
Memorial sites so that they can see how big the burden is.
I would like to conclude, Your Excellency, by reiterating our gratitude for your
support and for the opportunity you have given us to be here today. The Youth
in EAC wish to crown you for your efforts to restore faith in humanity and
confidence among the youth in Rwanda, Africa and across. We are dedicated
to follow your foot-steps, sustain your vision and use it to cause change across
generations.
May the Almighty God grant you a very long life to realize the tremendous
impact your devoted leadership continues to cause across generations. The initial
results are extremely evident with your hands-on approach and we believe
that there is more to come. Please rest assured, Your Excellency, that hakuna
kurudi nyuma bali ni kusonga mbele haraka.
Thank you.
Mrisho Gambo
Chairman
East African Community Youth Organization
P.o Box 11777
Arusha Tanzania
E-mail: mrishogambo@yahoo.co.uk
Cell: +255784337639
SOURCE: Mjengwa Blog
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