 The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), together with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Ministry of Social Welfare Youth Women and Children Development Organized and Marked the International Youth Day which was celebrated on 12th August 2011
The colourful ceremony was also used to announce finalists of the 2011 UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund “Zanzibar Window”, which was first launched in February 2011 by Ms. Zainab Omar Mohammed, Zanzibar’s Minister of Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children, and Mr. Erik Solheim, Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development in support of urban youth projects focused on employment, skills training, entrepreneurship, and governance.
Six organisations from the island made the mark for the Fund to a tune of USD 85,000.
This year’s event was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children of Zanzibar Ms. Fatma Ghalib Bilal,and UN-HABITAT Country Programme Manager (HPM), Mr.Phillemon Mutashubirwa.
In her speech the Permanent Secretary said “Youth are given opportunities and empowered and they can archive the excellence”. She also thanked UN-HABITAT and the Norwegian Government for their support in establishing the ‘Zanzibar Window’.
The Executive Director for UN-HABITAT Dr. Jon Cloas’ statement for the International Youth Day, was delivered by the HPM Mr. Phillemon Mutashubirwa which stated that “We mark the annual International Youth Day at a time of sadness for the tragic murders of youth leaders in Norway, but with the hope that more young people around the world will carry the torch for freedom, democracy and good governance. Our young generations are the future, and we need all their vitality, creativity and optimism.
The audience aslo heard of the success of the inaugural “Zanzibar Window” application year, which attracted interest from more than 76 Youth Led Organizations.
The UN-HABITAT Youth Fund is supported by the government of Norway and has so far granted approximatley to 2 million USD to over 100 youth led organizations globally in its two years of operation. The fund has sought to advance the Habitat Agenda and address poverty reduction targets of the Millennium Development Goals. |
