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Day 5 - YES Summit Closes with Calls for Peace, Cooperation and Youthful Energy

September 11th is a momentous day around the world-even more so in Alexandria, Egypt, where the Youth Employment Summit came to a close amidst calls for peace and world cooperation. "A year ago, a nightmare took place," said the Honorable Dr. Aly E. Hillal, Egyptian Minister of Youth. "A year later from Egypt-the land of civility, peace and love-youth of the world dream of a better world in which peace, justice and democracy prevail. In pluralism, diversity and tolerance, we assure that together, the youth of the world have the will to make that dream a reality."

Summit organizers summed up the week-long proceedings with an urgent call to action directed at all stakeholders in the youth employment equation. Five days of discussions on issues ranging from health and well-being to economic and environmental sustainability have produced two tangible results from this Summit: the Alexandria declaration and a 10-year plan of action that elaborates on the declaration's guiding principles.

Hillal expressed gratitude to all participants and admiration for youth delegates in particular, many of whom travelled great distances and overcame many barriers to get to Egypt. Yesterday, the YES organizing committee was given input from youth delegates in the form of a letter drafted the previous night and signed by approximately 30 YES country networks. Meanwhile, a smaller group of delegates who expressed frustration with the summit yesterday have decided to try forming a youth advisory committee for the YES Secretariat.

"Youth are asking that their voices be heard, that their role be recognized as active actors rather than beneficiaries," Hillal said, acknowledging these groups. "I want to tell you that your voice came to us loud and clear. We listened to your views with respect and we were enlightened. We trust the potential and capacities of your generation."

YES Executive Director Poonam Ahluwalia echoed this sentiment and encouraged participants to boldly take the next step in this process. "This is just the beginning," she said. "It took a long time to get here but we are now poised to take the next step. You must go forward in your communities and look to yourself for support."

Delegates will reconvene to discuss their progress at the next YES Summit in 2004 in Mexico City. "Our work begins as this Summit ends," said Esteban Gonzales, head of the YES country network in Mexico. "This work of creating millions of jobs for youth can only be done by you."

The closing ceremonies included a special thank you to world media correspondents for recognizing youth employment as an urgent issue worthy of promotion.

For more info on the Youth Employment Summit, go to http://www.youthemploymentsummit.org.