Coming from various African countries, the young champions have been, since yesterday Thursday, November 14, in the conference room of the Documentation and Legal Information Center of the Court of Appeal of Cotonou for their third Summit for peace, security and development , which was organized by the NGO Planete Paix and Think Tank ” the Vigilant Generation “.
After the summits of 2017 and 2018 in Cote d’Ivoire, Benin is hosting the third summit this year. For three days, the “Young Champions” from 13 African countries will reflect on peace, security and development. At the opening ceremony of this season which started yesterday at 10 am, the champions recognized that Africa is plagued by several evils that young people must commit to heal.
For the President of the organizing committee, Pacôme Affognon, this annual three-day program, both theoretical and practical, of capacity building, awareness-raising and sharing of experiences is above all an instrument of peace, solidarity, living together, democracy and development. Because coming from different horizons, these young people accepted, following the philosophy of ” King Guézo’s jar with holes ”, symbol of peace, to join forces despite the differences of race, sex, religion, ethnicity and culture. This is, moreover, the exhortation of Francis Oke, President of YALI towards young people : to unite to face security issues. But the champions are aware of their challenge and have only one goal, that of working for a wonderful Africa. This is confirmed by the words of Luchelle Feukeng, spokesperson for the delegations that have set foot on Beninese soil, “We are here this morning gathered in these places because we have a challenge, a dream, a passion: to see an Africa where peace reigns, see an Africa where we hear more about wars, refugees. We would like to see an Africa taking off. With regard to the evils which are undermining the continent, she reassured on behalf of the delegations that after the exchanges from the summit of the milestones will be posed for the construction of a strong, solid, brilliant and above all peaceful Africa.
“Things don’t come from themselves but from action,” said Achille COMOE, The Representative of the President of the Think tank the vigilante Generation, Jauresse Amoussou, added that Africa also needs to rely on sustainable development, an act that is impossible if African youth are not freed from the chains of debasement and suffering. According to her, the youth must face the numerous challenges of unemployment, new diseases, immigration and despair. For this, the champions will reflect and think of appropriating these evils in order to act with words and actions for their resolution. “We are in this room to do a strong act,” said Achille COMOE, the Central President of the NGO Planete Paix. “The raison d’être of the Young Champions Program is to make their modest contribution to the effort of peace, security and sustainable development in the nations” he said before inviting the young people to work and take their destiny in hand instead of relying on governments, parents, at the risk of always being late.
The summit lasts three days and will therefore end on Saturday, November 16.
