A Review of the Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD) Since Its Creation
Inspire has clocked nine likewise NAYD International; we can be happy for this dream comes true to build up a network of African youths to express and share their know-how. Having a review of the network since its creation is a way of getting back to the philosophy of the founding members of the network (Pochi Tamba the CEO from Cameroon and Thomas Mitchell jr. the regional director for West Africa from Liberia). NAYD is a network that brings together African Youths involved in Development. Most of these youths are in organised structures, while some are free cells carrying out positive actions on individual levels. While the primary member of NAYD are organisations, there is however a place for individuals to contribute to the vision of the network.

The idea for a network like NAYD came up in 2005 during an international youth congress. There, the founders of NAYD underlined the fact that African youths had issues particular to them, and it was crucial for them to know one another, work together and take control of their future through that of their continent. This is the main reason behind the existence of NAYD.NAYD officially opened doors in March 2007 after the holding of the first NAYD Summit in Buea, Cameroon with 30 youths in attendance, in March 2007. To this date, NAYD has more than 100 member organisations across the continent. These members are sparsely spread in about 20 countries across Africa. NAYD has offices or representations in 9 of them.

NAYD Activities: The greatest challenge faced by NAYD since its creation is that of carrying out activities as a network across the continent due to lack of funds and travel impediments. Travel across Africa is currently among the highest in the world.
That said, the international office has put in place monthly conference chats through the internet for NAYD officials and members to discuss salient issues concerning the network. Successively, the conference has helped members debate and agree on issues such as NAYD and its place in Africa today, the registration of NAYD as an international organisations, the need for and quality of Board of Director for NAYD, and a future NAYD Value Sharer’s workshop.

NAYD International also negotiated a deal with the UK based Organisation, Peace Child International, to become its partner, first for its upcoming youth congress in Canada and second for any future needs. You can find details about the World Youth Congress Organised by Peace Child International by checking on either of the two websites: www.nayd.org and www.peacechild.org. Considering the aforementioned difficulties and the youthfulness of NAYD, am very proud to say that members in NAYD countries have shown undisputed commitment by organising divers’ activities at country levels.

I must start with Kenya, where Naydians under the leadership of Mike Muchomba, the country coordinator, organised NAYD awareness across Kenya. This campaign reached hundreds of Kenyan youths involved in the development struggle and actually got 32 members to join NAYD Kenya. NAYD-Liberia Country Coordinator, Mr. Andrew Kuwon and NAYD Regional Director for WA, Thomas P. Mitchell, Jr. were invited to a one-day workshop on August 11, 2007 held at the St. Nagbe United Methodist Church in Liberia. This workshop brought together over 50 participants from different universities and organizations to learn the importance of volunteerism, Partnering/Networking, etc.In Cameroon, Burundi, Nigeria, Togo, etc Naydians were also active in creating awareness about NAYD, its vision and prospective projects.

NAYD 2008 Perspectives: With the New Year 2008 come new hopes and plans for the NAYD International team. Essentially, here are our expectations for the coming year.
1. Top on our list is the legalisation of NAYD International in Cameroon so that country offices can register duely as affiliates. With the registration in progress, we believe this had been over by end of December 2007.
2. NAYD International is launching a workshop for NAYDians called the NAYD Value Sharer’s programme (You can get details about this on the website) where country offices are expected to organise a low cost value sharing workshop among youths twice a year. We hope that 2008 will come with facilities for the organisation of these workshops in all NAYD Countries.
3. Pending the legal status of NAYD in Cameroon, the international office hopes to initiates an aggressive campaign to garner resources for NAYD and support the massive work currently being done by African youths through the network of African youths for Development, NAYD.
Munu Thaddeus