Pan African Youth Dialogue

Introduction

“Africans serious about the future of the continent need to get beyond the “Dictatorship or Imperialism” options we are being asked to accept or the simplistic accounts of how we walk our way out of the myriad of challenges we face on our content. What Africa needs is a passionate commitment to our right as a people to stand by and for ourselves...The real task of the future of our continent is in devoting our energy and intellect to how we craft independence and decent livelihood for our people ” Professor Jimi Adesina.

It is out of this “passionate commitment”, genuine “devotion of energy and intellect”, inspired by the task of the vision of the African Renaissance in order to better the livelihood of the people of the African continent that the Pan-African Youth Dialogue (PAYD) is being established. At the center of the values, vision, aims and objectives of PAYD is “rebirth, revival and renewal of Africa as encapsulated in the vision of the African Renaissance and the belief that this will truly be an African century” as outlined by the South African Government’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

“No one was ever given freedom on a silver platter. If you want freedom, if you want to be listened to and heard, then you have to assert that right. You have to fight for it,” were the words of Professor Barney Pityana and Mr Lebogang Hashatse. Thus PAYD seeks to engage young people in promoting the rebirth of Africa, participating in its governance and inculcating ethical and responsible leadership.