Monday, February 15, 2010
By Walter Wilson Nana
The welfare and the future of the youth across the world is not only the preserve of government officials. NGOs and other international organisations are, forcefully, chipping in their own contributions to ensure that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
 Kwemain (R) with Commonwealth SG Kamalesh
In the second month of his stewardship as the 2010 World President of the Junior Chamber International, JCI, Roland Kwemain, has put youth development and the growth of their leadership skills a priority in his operations. In his recent visit to London, Kwemain and the Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma explored amongst other issues partnership around youth leadership for community change, youth entrepreneurship, information sharing as well as networking the secretariat of the Commonwealth and that of JCI.
Sharma was impressed by the achievements and efforts of JCI in providing opportunities for young people to achieve their aims and ambitions and felt that there were tangible similarities between the objectives of the two organisations. "The fact that JCI is a voluntary organisation demonstrates that it is genuinely concerned about finding solutions to global and local problems and it is this kind of movement that will help encourage governments to take action where needed," the Indian diplomat said.
According to Sharma, there is need for the Commonwealth and JCI to explore strategic alliance and partnership arrangements similar to those of the UN. "There is encouraging news that the Commonwealth is striving to deliver access to finance for projects in developing Commonwealth countries," he added.
In the package of the visit to England, the JCI 2010 President did not only liaise with the Commonwealth, he gave an inspirational talk on the "Impact One." In his discourse, Kwemain encouraged JCI members in England to support the delivery of an impact strategy across the other local JCI chapters in England and JCI UK in general.
Kwemain had other high-profiled discussions in London with JCI UK National President, Lesley Young, JCI London President, Solveig Malvik, Baroness Young of the House of Lords, Peter Bishop, Deputy Chief Executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industries and officials of Cameroon High Commission in London.
Some of the pertinent issues raised were around cultural relations, youth development work, combating malaria through the UN Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, engaging into active citizenship, the possibility of supporting potential young leaders internationally, funding for some JCI Projects like the Best Business Plan competitions that need financial assistance and raising the profile and credibility of JCI in London and other parts of the UK.
Biya Congratulates Kwemain
As the JCI President embarks on his international assignments, President Paul Biya has sent a message of congratulations to him on his election as the 2010 JCI World President. A letter dated Thursday, February 4, 2010, and signed by Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency, Peter Agbor Tabi, reads; "The President of the Republic has instructed me to transmit to you his warm and hearty congratulations for your brilliant election as the 2010 JCI World President in Hammamet, Tunisia, November 21 2009."
The release continues; "The President of the Republic, while expressing joy that you made the flag of Cameroon fly very high in the Tunisian sky, amongst 119 other countries in the world, he encourages you to forge ahead, inviting other Cameroonians and those of your generation to follow your shining examples and be a symbol of happiness for the nation."
Source: The Post
Publié le mardi 16 février 2010
|
