Youth Workers across the globe contribute towards helping young people keep their lives on the rails of safety, employment, career fulfilment, and take the frontline in championing causes that benefit young people. But it is obvious that in many parts of Africa, Youth Workers do not receive the accolades they deserve.
During the High Level Panel Discussion hosted by Mr. Moses Baffour Awuah at the Global Youth Workers Conference, Mr. Peter Anum, the Commonwealth Youth Workers Coordinator, in the bid to highlight the need to encourage and motivate Youth Workers, spoke about how Youth Workers across Africa are ignored by leaders and stakeholders, and rather focusing, scarce resources on sectors which do not make any direct positive impact on the Youth.
In reponse, Mr. Edmund Yeboah, the partnership director at the National Youth Authority revealed that there was an award scheme for Youth Workers in Ghana which had been abandoned. But he assured the panel and the delegates that they have plans to revive it this year to award Youth Workers as a part of this year’s Youth Week Celebrations.
Youth workers in attendance were excited about the news but they also added that they hope that the right people be awarded, based on their impact.