In an ambition to nourish an effective nationwide integration within the East-African bloc, the East-African Community – Youth Ambassadors Platform-Burundi Chapter, collaboratively with the Ministry at the Office of the President in Charge of East African Community Affairs, organizes a national debate on EAC integration under the theme: “YOUTH EMBRACING THE EAC INTEGRATION”.
The East African Community (EAC) is the regional intergovernmental organization of the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and South Soudan, with its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
South Soudan joined the community early in 2016 following Burundi and Rwanda which joined EAC on 1st July 2007.
The youth of East Africa are important stakeholders in the EAC processes and form substantial part of the population. Article 120 (c) of the EAC Treaty provides for adoption of a common approach for involvement of the youth in the integration process through education, training and mainstreaming youth issues into EAC policies, programs and projects as one of the strategic interventions towards the realization of a fully integrated Community.
The debate is to take place at National Institute of Public Health, commonly known as INSP, respectively on august, 20th 2016 and august, 27th with a final debate to be held on September, 10th. The debate will engage young people from partaking universities (University of Burundi, Ecole Normale Supérieure, INSP, Université Lumière, Université des Grands Lacs and ISMR) in a battle of opinions with the focus on enhancing the “East-Africanity” awareness among the youth for a functional integration.
This window for self-expression and verbalizing communication skills is expected to boil down to affirmative and alternative opinions on given topics from two teams comprising four members each round and will see an overall participation of two rounds each debating day. Finalists among debaters will be drawn from the four teams after .
Broadcasted by the National Radio and TV (RTNB) and Buja F.M, the debate will kick off at 11 a.m. to end at 1 p.m. with comments and interviews of the public and debaters.
The specific goals are:
- To prepare students for the regional debate;
- To promote continuous participation of Burundian youth in resolving issues of the EAC integration;
- To engage youth in a fruitful and productive debate about issues haunting their future and their country’s development;
- To encourage networking among university students to enhance regional integration;
- To promote English in Burundi as an official language in the EAC.
This is the first Edition and the Debate will be held on an annual basis prior to the Regional one.
The Platform expresses its heartfelt thanks towards sponsors like YAGA blogger Network, CRDB Bank Burundi, Buja FM, RTNB, INSP, Universities, Ministries, UMUCE and anyone willing to support this Project and call upon everyone who can to do so.
One People…One Destiny.
EAC Integration at its fullest…!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do
not speak about these issues. To the next! All the best!!