Youth representatives from Rwanda will join their counterparts from other African Union (AU) countries for the African Youth Forum (AFY) slated for July 17-19 in Entebbe, Uganda.

The AU conference is expected to attract hundreds of youth leaders from all over the continent under the theme,

"Achieving Maternal and Child Health Goals – African Youth Call for Action,” which also resonates with the main AU Summit "Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development”.

Speaking to The New Times, yesterday, Youth Minister, Protais Mitali, said that it is important for young people to interact with their peers.

"This is an opportunity for our young people to interact with others and share knowledge and experiences concerning key issues that face the young people today, like unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Mitali added that they are training the youth representatives from Rwanda to understand more on some of the remarkable steps the country has taken in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) like Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.

He revealed that the Rwandan delegation will constitute young people aged between 16 and 19 years who were selected in a rigorous process of interviews.

The conference will focus on Maternal and Child Health and Development in Africa, employment, poverty, HIV/AIDS and climate change.

It is reported that, in close coordination with the AU, the AYF will become a regular meeting alongside future AU Summits, so that young people’s recommendations will be heard by Africa’s leaders and considered.

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