‘Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward’…this was this year’s theme on the UN International Youth Day which is celebrated on August 12 each year. Statistics show that youth form about 30% of international migrants! Yet very little is known about the livelihood, struggles, and opportunities that migration presents for young migrants and other youth who are affected by migration. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness about the situation of these young people as well as the role of youth-led organizations in addressing migration issues.
In celebrating this special day for youth, TFFT partnered with a local youth organization known as Vision For Youth who prepared two events under the sponsorship of East African Community. The first event involved youth from different parts of Tanzania and other East African countries in tree planting activities around East African Community Headquarters, cleaning the public areas at Arusha Bus Stand and Kaloleni Urban Health Center, and voluntary HIV/AIDS health check ups. Seven of the TFFT scholars and the Scholarship Program Director participated in this event.
The second event was a three-day camp conducted at Bomang’ombe area outside of Arusha City at a cool environment of Torch Bearer Campsite from August 16 through 18. More than 100 youth, with 12 TFFT Scholars among them, attended this event, and we covered a lot, including;
- Entrepreneurship and small business
- Agriculture and Youth
- Youth opportunities in the East African Community
- Life skills: Effects of drugs abuse, public speaking and HIV/AIDS
- Talk shows, games and sports
Apart from that, the attendants in both events got to listen inspirational speeches from the EAC Deputy Secretary General (Productive Social Sectors), Hon. Jesca Eriyo who among other things talked much on the structure of East African Community and different opportunities available for youth in the East Africa and the great lakes region at large. This was a great opportunity not only for our scholars but also TFFT itself by expanding our influence on youth empowerment and share our experience with other organizations which attended, the community around Arusha City as well as East African Community itself in which we aspire to increase our involvement in their youth related programs so as to impact more youth in the future.