Johannesburg, 24 August 2023 (TDI): The Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Asanda Luwaca addressed the open plenary session of the 15th BRICS Summit on August 23. She announced before the house that the recent 9th BRICS Youth Summit has reached a consensus on the establishment of the BRICS Youth Council.
Asanda Luwaca highlighted that at the 9th BRICS Youth Summit, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) presented the draft framework for the establishment of a Youth Council.
She shed light that the BRICS Youth Council will become the coordination body for youth development within BRICS member countries.
She added that the BRICS Youth Council will also join formations such as the BRICS Business Council, BRICS Women’s Alliance and the New Development Bank.
Moreover, she notified in the session that since the 9th BRICS Youth Summit, the leaders of youth agencies have had three occasions to consider the draft declarations and the framework of the BRICS Youth Council which finally led to a consensus.
Asanda Luwaca appealed before the BRICS leaders for the 15th BRICS Summit to endorse the proposal for the establishment of the BRICS Youth Council in its final declaration to ensure that new pathways for positive change and innovation can be realized.
“In doing so, it will further ensure that no young person among the BRICS member states gets left behind. Young people in their collective believe that youth are the present and the future. Our interaction as BRICS member states cannot and should not be limited to an annual summit” Luwaca said.
In her address, she emphasized that the BRICS Youth Council will be a historic achievement across the five countries.
Also read: South Africa Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with China
9th BRICS Youth Summit
The 9th BRICS Youth Summit commenced on July 18, 2023, in Durban, and was hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the South African government.
The theme of the Youth Summit was “BRICS and Africa: a partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism”.
The objectives of the Youth Summit summit were to bring together youth participants, providing an opportunity for them to share ideas and work on a concrete Action Plan for cooperation in the economic, humanitarian, mass media, and science spheres.
South Africa being the Chair of BRICS directed the Youth Summit to focus on encouraging young leaders among BRICS nations to participate in addressing the most significant global challenges, and economic, and social issues, and contribute to the developmental agenda.
The aim was also directed to focus on holding constructive engagements on issues relating to youth empowerment and the advancement of youth development.
Furthermore, to create an advantageous environment where youth will devise a path to a brighter and better future.
