Through a tough struggle and advocacy, the President of Somaliland eventually issued a presidential decree recognizing 20th February as the official National Youth Day of Somaliland. After that big achievement, SONYO, in a close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Mercy Corps and the members in its network, has managed to commemorate the National Youth Day in the biggest, most colorful and impactful way it is ever done.
A march consisting of 600 youth including high school and university students and being led by the Music Band-boy folk of the Somaliland police, the leadership of SONYO Umbrella and other youth leaders who were invited and brought from all regions went on from the SONYO Headquarter in Hargeisa and took the main street in front of the Presidency and the two Houses of Parliament. The march ended up at the Statue in front of the MJ Regional Court (previously the military court of the Siyad’s dictatorship). People in the march gathered at this Statue and made some speeches by very few distinguished guests of honor. The importance of the role of our youth in the development process was concentrated in most of those speeches. The democratic values that replaced those of the dictator regime were discussed on while the democracy of Somaliland was described as “hinging on the shoulders of the youth—who are the majority of the country’s population”. After the speeches, the memories of the victims killed during the students’ demonstrations back in 1980s when the Somali dictator regime set fire to the protesting students asking for the release of their detained civilian teachers and headmasters.
Being attended by more than 3,500 youth from across all walks including students of high schools, universities, out-of-school youth, young leaders from the civil society sector, a colorful symposium was held at Gulaid Hotel and Conferencing Space in Hargeisa. The Vice President being also the acting president during the president’s trip to the abroad, key ministers, leaders of all political parties, speakers of the parliament and many other distinguished guests were present at the Ceremony. A viably loudly and inclusive platform was created and the actual concerns of the youth of Somaliland were elaborately discussed and debated upon with SONYO’s objective leadership of the podium where the voices of the youth attending in the Event were ensured to be well-heard by the policymakers during their presence. Despite the concentration on the undeniable role of the youth in the society, the link between the positive engagement of the youth and the sustainability of the peace and stability of Somaliland was also explicated. SONYO presented a speech that set the record straight and sharply touched upon all key youth issues.
On top of all those speeches, debates and dialogue between youth leaders and decision-makers, cultural drama with music songs was played at the Event for raising the awareness of the youth on the dangers of illegal migration, trafficking, substance abuse and involvement in crimes and violence.
The Event did not end until SONYO Umbrella gave precious awards to some youth and stakeholders deserving to be rewarded for their indispensable contributions to the wellbeing of the youth communities. Among those awarded, the young authors, inventors of social entrepreneurship ideas and others were lucky to receive those certificates of recognition, which, for honor, were presented by the Vice President as he was the most senior official at the Ceremony. Mercy Corps, Ministry of Youth, Hemma Books Company, Author of Dambar-same book, Mohamed Omer—a popular and young orator and mentor on the subjects of self improvement and entrepreneurial spirit development were all awarded with Certificates of Recognition.
Source: SONYO Umbrella