OVER 200 young people, leaders and stakeholders from various parts of Dar es Salaam gathered in the city yesterday to explore strategies for leveraging available economic opportunities for regional development.

The youth exposition forum was part of the Youth Ready (YR) project, a four-year initiative led by World Vision Tanzania and supported by the Barrett Family Foundation of Canada.

The YR project aims to empower out-of-school youth to become healthy, productive and socially engaged agents of change. 

During the forum’s opening, Joseph Mhaiki, a representative from World Vision Tanzania, said that the forum aimed to discuss business innovation, digital literacy and global leadership, encouraging youth to seize opportunities and drive positive change.

Mhaiki said this was done in collaboration with the United Nations Association (UNA) Tanzania and Women’s Health and Development Organization (KIWOHEDE).

 “Together, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering youth to spur national development,” he said.

He said the programme focuses on areas where youth are empowered for success in work and life through strengthened skills, voice, vision, resilience and positive relationships.

“The empowered youth will be linked to meaningful opportunities and support to take the next steps in their personal development and livelihood pathway plans,’ he said.

He said the programme will work closely with various partners to ensure that it is well implemented and bring out intended outcomes by transforming the mindsets and lives of youth.

Ibrahim Mwenda, executive director of UNA Tanzania, stressed the importance of increased collaboration for youth empowerment.

“This forum, which will continue to evolve, will help open the minds of young people to the opportunities available to them,” he said.

Shigeki Komatsubara, UNDP Resident Representative, encouraged youth to harness digital tools for their development. 

Monica John, a participant and Youth Lead programme beneficiary shared her positive experience, noting that the training which she received under the programme expanded her understanding of opportunities and how to capitalise on them.