On the occasion of the African Youth Charter adoption in the Executive Council Decision of the Banjul Summit 2006, 1 November was proclaimed and instituted as Africa Youth Day.
It is a day set aside every year to promote the increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all areas of African society. It is an occasion to celebrate the youth on the continent, and an opportunity to contribute and channel youth motivation, energy and creativity towards political, social and economic renewal. The celebration also serves to contribute and channel the youth voices, energy and idealism to reinforce the efforts towards the achievement of sustainable development in Africa.
Africa Youth Day is followed by Africa Youth Month, which is also full of activities. Africa Youth Month will be launched on 1 November with a continent-wide scavenger hunt. The first of its kind, the scavenger hunt will provide youth across Africa and in the diaspora with fun and instructive tasks and activities to perform across the day. These simple tasks are aimed to create awareness, learning, knowledge and interaction with Agenda 2063, the African Youth Charter and the 1 Million by 2021 initiative. Participants will share their efforts online, which will be popularized by the African Union Commission through an online interactive map.
The scavenger hunt will be convened by the AU Youth Envoy and the advisory council, and they will lead and coordinate the national tasks. Any individual, youth organization, youth club, family, group of friends, community, etc. can get together and participate. Africa Youth Day is celebrated not only in African countries. In Berlin, Germany, Africa Youth Days take place from August until November, organized by Global New Generation Berlin e.V.
