The Youth Café Takes Part In The Africa - Europe Week.

In the margins of the 6th European Union - African Union summit on 17 and 18 February 2022, over 10,000 delegates from Europe, Africa, and beyond participated in the first Africa-Europe Week together with 15,000 delegates in the 7th EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF). Hosted in a hybrid format in Brussels and virtually, during over 100 sessions, panel discussions, and concerts, the first edition of the Africa-Europe week was a key moment to bring together young people, civil society, and the private sector from Africa and Europe to discuss the aspects of the Africa-EU Partnership that matter to them the most. The Africa-Europe week aimed to strengthen the links connecting people from Africa and Europe.

In her opening address, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, underlined the strong ties both continents share and aim to strengthen further: "We need new connections between Europe and Africa. Not just between our governments but between the people of our continents. The private sector, civil society, and young people will have a crucial role in our partnership and building a new growth model for Africa and Europe."

During her keynote address at Africa Week Youth Day, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, highlighted the importance of youth engagement in political discussions: "Young people are the future and the present. We're involved in policies that will shape the world of tomorrow. An EU-Africa Partnership is sustainable only with youth at its core. Youth must be involved in shaping it, and leaders must listen."

The Africa-Europe Week and EABF22  concluded with the delivery of four outcomes documents from youth delegates, civil society organizations, local authorities, and the EABF22. These joint outcomes documents capture participants' views, presented to leaders during the EU-AU Summit.

Young people from across Africa, Europe, and the diaspora came together to discuss their concerns, from youth empowerment to digital transformation and green transition, not forgetting education, health, and culture. Key takeaways included: Young people should have a more active role in the Africa-Europe Union Partnership and decision-making. African and European Union institutions need to meaningfully include young people for a more inclusive and representative partnership. For that to happen, it is important to ensure meaningful youth participation, one that goes beyond consultations and that allocates concrete resources to youth mainstreaming in the Africa-Europe Union Partnership, thus allowing both continents to accelerate human development, the green jointly, and digital transition as well as create growth and jobs as shared goals.

The Youth Café is the place for youth as we provide key education opportunities such as access to knowledge, information, and healthcare for young people. The Youth Café works with young men and women in Kenya and Africa to foster community Universal Health Coverage. Access to quality education and the opportunity to develop skills and competencies is vital in preparing youth for the future. An investment in their human capital is an investment in the socio-economic future of our societies. The Youth Café aspires to provide high-quality education and training systems that are efficient and that facilitate young people's access and integration.

Within the framework of the Africa-Europe Week, African and European Civil Society and Local Authorities jointly organized a "CSO-LA Day" to discuss both continents' future and the key priorities to address at the European -African Union Summit. The meaningful discussions led to key recommendations from civil society and local authorities to be forwarded to African and European leaders ahead of the Summit.

Suggestions are connected to the overall CSO/LA Forum theme - "Participatory and transparent governance: A people-centered approach" - and focused on priority areas that were discussed with stakeholders across Europe and Africa throughout the day, such as Food sovereignty and rural transformation, decent work and informal sector in a digital world, human development through health, education and social protection, quality inclusive education at all levels, equitable green partnership and Governance, peace and security, "delivering on the AU-EU partnership: local government's role," "How are urban environment challenges considered in the green transition and recovery."

Co-organized by the European Commission, the African Union Commission, and European Union and African business organizations and key institutions, the EABF22 brought together business and political leaders from both continents to increase opportunities for sustainable economic partnerships. More than 15,000 participants attended 30 high-level panels, over 200 online events, 300 online booths, and built networks across the continents. Discussions revolved around "Building stronger value chains for sustainable growth and decent jobs."

The Youth Café is a hub of ideas and innovation, and we know how to create jobs. The Youth Café works with young men and women in Kenya and Africa to foster Business, Job Creation, and Entrepreneurship. The Youth Café creates business incubation programs with start-up capital to support young people with great business ideas while providing training opportunities for self-employment purposes.

The EABF22 culminated in months of preparatory discussions between business representatives and public sector stakeholders from the European Union and Africa that prepared the event, assisted by 12 thematic working groups. The members of each of these working groups drafted valuable proposals for their respective areas. The result is the EABF Joint Declaration of the Business Organisations that includes specific business outcomes to be implemented by business partners and calls for action for the public sector to consider. This business declaration calls for more innovative financing mechanisms for the private sector to enable sustainable projects, promotion of free trade tools, and a closer EU-Africa economic partnership. It will be transmitted to political leaders in the Africa Week "Meet the Leaders" session and directly through the AU-EU Summit.

During the week, a range of cultural fixtures accompanied the youth, Civil Society Organizations and Local Authority, and EABF22 tracks. Culture is paramount to the Africa-Europe Union Partnership. To reflect this, the Africa-Europe Week closed with the concert of MAISHA, a unique Afro-European musical collective that unites 12 talented and acknowledged artists from both continents, a stellar illustration of the people-to-people ties both Africa and Europe share. At The Youth Café, we believe that culture, arts, and sports can change the world. Culture, Arts & Sports can address major global challenges – such as conflict prevention and resolution, social integration, prevention of violent extremism, and protection of cultural heritage. Culture, Arts, and sports are key partners in promoting peace and unity.

The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience, and transformative change.

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