NYDA congratulates Executive Chairperson Yershen Pillay

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) welcomes the appointment of its Executive Chairperson Yershen Pillay to be President of the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) on behalf of South Africa. Pillay was appointed to the position together with Mali's Suleiman as PYU Secretary General during an Executive Committee meeting of the PYU which took place in Dakar, Senegal on Friday 13 December 2013. Pillay will represent South Africa in this capacity until December 2014. His election is a clear indication of confidence in South Africa to lead youth development issues on the continent.

The PYU is a continental youth body recognised by the African Union Heads of Governments and States to coordinate youth development in the African continent, thus serving as a voice for young people. It is the only youth focal point of the African Union on youth development matters. During its meeting the Executive Committee adopted a 2014 Plan of Action which 5 priority programmes namely:

1) A Pan African Youth Development Summit to be held in Johannesburg during the month of October 2014.

2) An African Youth University to be launched in Windhoek, Namibia in April 2014.

3) A Europe - Africa Youth Summit to take place in Brussels, Belgium in March 2014.

4) A State of African Youth Report to be commissioned by the PYU in 2014.

5) An African Youth Entrepreneurship Programme to be developed in 2014.

The PYU also committed itself to uniting the youth of Africa towards a common programme for youth development on the continent. The NYDA wishes Pillay well in executing his duties and is confident that with his background and experience in youth development, he will do South Africa and the rest of the Continent proud.

Statement issued by Siyabonga Magadla, National Youth Development Agency, December 17 2013

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