Namibia Marks International Youth Day With Call for Greater Youth Participation

Namibia Marks International Youth Day With Call for Greater Youth PParticipation. Namibia joined countries around the world in commemorating International Youth Day on 12 August 2026, bringing together youth delegates from all 14 regions at the Keetmanshoop Show Hall.

The event was held under the theme “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation Through Technology and Partnerships” and included a keynote address, panel discussion, youth debate and cultural performances.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister Hon Dr Sanet L. Steenkamp told young delegates that International Youth Day was about more than celebrating young people.

“It is about recognising your power, your potential and your responsibility to shape the Namibia we will become,” she said.Steenkamp encouraged young Namibians to “think, create, adapt, lead and contribute” as they consider their role in the country’s future.

The event also saw the launch of the Namibia Learning Passport, developed in partnership with UNICEF. UNICEF Deputy Representative Toshiko Takahashi described the platform as a bridge connecting learning with employability and entrepreneurship.

Youth participation was also central to discussions during the panel session. Young people called for their generation to be placed at the centre of important decision-making processes rather than being consulted only after decisions have already been made.

Participants also encouraged young people to confidently take up space in decision-making environments and turn their ideas into documented proposals rather than leaving them as informal discussions.

Another key issue raised during the discussions was the role of vocational education and training in addressing youth unemployment.

Young delegates argued that vocational education and training should receive the same recognition and investment as academic pathways.