"Youths Are Leaders of Today and Tomorrow"

KIGALI, Rwanda (IFAPA Commission Meeting) - "The youth are leaders of today and tomorrow," Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, convenor of the Inter- Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA) said at the IFAPA Commission meeting in the Rwandan capital.
Addressing journalists at the end of end of the four-day inaugural meeting of the Commission on 22 June, Noko, who is also general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) said he firmly believed that the youth have a very important role in bringing peace and reconciliation in Africa.

Noko said unity and cooperation between the elders and youth can be achieved when peace building is the unifying factor. He echoed the adage "united we stand, divided we fall," and assured the youth that there would be an opportunity to have a youth-pre conference before the main summit in 2008.

Highlighting the main issues covered during the meeting, Noko said "A Mother’s cry for a Healthy Africa" was a significant issue as it underscored the "upliftment of the health and wellness of Africa" and the strength of women striving for peace. Also important was the location of the IFAPA Secretariat and its constitution, which both provide IFAPA with legal recognition. The constitution, which was agreed in principle, will be formally adopted at the Third IFAPA Summit in 2008. The Commission received proposals for the secretariat’s location, and agreed that it would finalize the issue.

The other main issue was the availability and accessibility of water in Africa, which, as the IFAPA convenor explained, is an important component of every religion. The launching of the African Monitor, an initiative of the Anglican Archbishop Njogonkulu Ndungane from Cape Town, South Africa was well received by the IFAPA Commission. Ndungane explained that the body monitors and promotes the effective implementation of development commitments to Africa.

Concluding the press conference, Noko encouraged the IFAPA youth and LWF Youth—participants in the three-year communication training program—to play an active role in the next IFAPA summit.

(By LWF Youth)