Symposium for Young Tanzanian Leaders

Young Tanzanian Leaders Symposium Participants in Dar es Salaam on September 18, 2010.

Tanzanian Delegates to President Obama's Forum
Organize Symposium for Young Tanzanian Leaders

On September 18, three Tanzanian delegates to President Barack Obama's August 3-5, 2010, Forum with Young African Leaders in Washington, D.C., organized the first national Symposium for Young Tanzanian Leaders at the Dar es Salaam International Conference Center.

Masoud Mohamed, Chairman of the Zanzibar Youth Network, Malula Nkanyemka, a project development advisor in the Mwanza Region, and Modesta Mahiga, Managing Director of Professional Approach Limited, Inc., invited 50 young leaders from all regions of Tanzania to the symposium to discuss President Obama's goals for African youth.

These goals emphasize transparency, accountability, a strong civil society, youth entrepreneurship development, technology use for economic advancement, and job creation.

Ms. Mahiga said: "Today is the first of what we hope will become quarterly gatherings for our new leadership group. We want to promote education and a better business investment climate to enhance employment opportunities for youth. The private sector's leadership through philanthropy can help empower women, children, and youth in Tanzania.

We will work with them and other partners to achieve these goals and convey the message to potential domestic and foreign investors that Tanzania is open for business."

President Obama hosted the Young African Leaders Forum with approximately 115 young leaders from civil society and the private sector representing more than forty countries in sub-Saharan Africa to promote development, in acknowledgement of the extraordinarily young demographic profile of the region, and to form a partnership with African youth.

In his remarks to symposium delegates, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Ilya Levin lauded the group for their leadership and vision to tackle challenges facing Tanzanians today.

He urged them to take advantage of the new opportunity provided by the symposium to expand their network of contacts and utilize each others' strengths and ideas to effect greater change.

"Your spirit and dedication has the potential to gather support from the private sector and other partners, and unleash the transformational change sought by Tanzanian youth today," said Levin.

The Symposium for Young Tanzanian Leaders was sponsored by the American people through the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam.