Youth Initiative and Association of Youth Organization of Nepal (AYON) jointly organised a Youth Consultation Conference in Kathmandu to provide inputs to the World Development Report (WDR) 2007 on the theme: Development and the Next Generation. More than 100 youths participated in the conference.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the conference on Sunday, Kenichi Ohasi, Country Director of the World Bank in Nepal encouraged young people’s civic participation and said, “It will take generational change. For quick change, Nepal’s youths and leaders need a sense of civic duties.”

Vice President of National Planning Commission, Dr Shanker Sharma, shared inspiring views on how important it was to have a personal mission to achieve success in one’s life. He said, “The National Planning Commission will involve youths as important stakeholders in the consultations for the upcoming 11th National Plan.”

Prior to the conference, Youth Initiative and Association of Youth Organisation Nepal organised three workshops on six various transitions affecting youth to get their feedback. Around 30 youths from diverse backgrounds participated in each of these workshops and discussed half a dozen themes including Transition from School, Transition to Work, Transition to Healthy Lifestyles, Transition to Family Formation, Transition to Citizenship and Global Youth Culture.

Rajendra Mulmi, President of the Association of Youth Organizations Nepal, said, “Youths are the major development partner and stakeholder of today.” He further emphasized that youths should be taken as an important partner in the planning process in all development planning and policy making endeavors in the country.

Robin Sitoula, General Secretary of Youth Initiative, said, “The role of youth should not be limited to being mobilized for others, youth should play an important role in policy and decision making.”

The comments and suggestions generated from the discussions will be incorporated in the final report that will to be submitted to WDR 2007.