BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE– Fifteen young Emaswati have been given a two-year mandate to help shape and influence European Union (EU) programmes and youth-related priorities in Eswatini.
The development was announced by His Excellency, the Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, during the launch of the second cohort of the Eswatini–EU Youth Sounding Board (YSB) held at Mountain View, Mbabane, on Monday.
The 15 members, selected following an extensive interview process, will serve in their personal capacities on a voluntary basis, working closely with the EU Delegation over the next two years.
His Excellency said the Youth Sounding Board was established to ensure that young people have a meaningful voice in shaping development programmes that affect them.
“Youth must have a real voice in shaping our efforts, and the Youth Sounding Board gives us a direct way to hear their ideas and reflect them in our priorities,” he said.
He said the second cohort had an important responsibility to build on the work of the inaugural Youth Sounding Board, which he said had made a meaningful contribution to youth-related initiatives in Eswatini.
The first cohort participated in the co-creation of the Erasmus+ Action Plan in Eswatini, organised an EU Green Roundtable, hosted a Mental Health Indaba and helped publicise the EU Development Fund.
The outgoing cohort also presented findings on youth exclusion from Eswatini’s economy and contributed to efforts aimed at strengthening youth inclusion in EU programmes.
Mecklenburg said their contribution helped the EU in developing a youth resilience programme for the 2022–2027 period.
He added that the first cohort had worked extensively with various partners in the youth sector, demonstrating the value of directly involving young people in the EU’s work.
The second cohort will now take forward this work, with a particular focus on connecting, engaging and empowering young people in Eswatini.
His Excellency said these three areas are the main pillars of the EU Youth Action Plan in EU External Action for 2022–2027, adding that the Youth Sounding Board would play an important role in helping young people understand how these pillars could be translated into action in Eswatini.
The 15 members will also collaborate with local youth initiatives and other Youth Sounding Boards established by EU delegations around the world.
They are expected to help create links between youth initiatives at international, regional and national levels while sharing experiences and promoting peer learning.
His Excellency described young people globally as powerful agents of change, saying they play an important role in addressing global challenges, promoting sustainable development and driving innovation.
He noted that young people are often at the forefront of efforts against climate change, poverty and corruption, while also contributing to peacebuilding and the promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
He said the new Youth Sounding Board should similarly become a platform through which young Emaswati could contribute to addressing challenges facing the country.
The EU has also committed to supporting the new cohort through capacity-building activities and peer learning throughout their two-year mandate.
Addressing the incoming members, His Excellency emphasised that youth representation should go beyond simply occupying a seat at the table.
“Youth representation is more than filling a seat at the table. It is about ensuring that young people’s voices are heard where decisions are made,” he said.
He urged the 15 members to believe in their ability to make a difference and to use the platform to contribute meaningfully to youth development in Eswatini.
The launch of the second cohort therefore marks a continuation of the EU’s efforts to place young people at the centre of dialogue, partnership and development programming in Eswatini.
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(Courtesy Pic)
