The Youth Forum

Speaking at the Opening Press Conference, Ms Matsepe-Casaburri applauded the ITU for having included the Youth Forum in the AFRICA 2001 programme, allowing young people of university age from all over Africa to deliberate on how technology can be used to advance their contribution to the reconstruction and development of the continent. The Youth Forum scholarships were awarded to delegates selected by a competition based on their ideas about the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the future of their countries and the role of the youth.

Speaking at an Imbizo* in honour of the African youth at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on 15 November, President Mbeki urged participants not just to speak, but to act. “Some people say I am a foolish President because I surf the Net,” he said. “But I would encourage all of you young people to make use of the technology available to you today, to surf the Net, and to make yourselves totally computer-literate.” Encouraging direct action, he continued, “If this technology is not available to you, ask for it — in your village or town, wherever you are in Africa. And make sure you get it.”

At the Imbizo, Mr Utsumi also had the opportunity to speak:
“Although only 85 of you have been participating here in South Africa, it has been a tremendous pleasure to have had a total of thousands of young African people involved via the Youth Forum process. This started with the competition procedure, continued through the selection of representatives, and culminated at AFRICA 2001. At times, your energy and enthusiasm have been almost overwhelming! Whether in the sessions themselves [in Johannesburg] or in the process of selecting representatives across the continent, it has been wonderful to see you working together in a spirit of African cooperation.

I would therefore like to thank all of you who have taken part and discussed the future of Africa in the Youth Forum process. I hope that you who are here today — the ICT leaders of tomorrow — have also found the experience constructive, both personally and professionally.

When you return home, over the coming days, I trust that you will share your experiences widely with your friends and colleagues. In this way, the ITU TELECOM AFRICA 2001 event can serve as an even more effective launch pad for accelerated telecommunications development across the African continent.”