Kutlo Motseta
25th August 2025
Youth leaders from across the world convened for the Inaugural International Forum We, the Youth (IFWY) at Grand Aria Hotel in Gaborone.
The event was officially opened by Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Joel Ramaphoi, who urged delegates not merely inherit the future, but heed the conference call and shape it through leadership roles.
“History reminds us that the most profound social transformations often begin not in boardrooms; but in the hearts and minds of the young. Botswana itself was a shaped by the vision of leaders who, though youthful in age, carried dreams far bigger than their tie. Their courage laid the foundation for the nation we call home,” said Ramaphoi.
He said, “Globally talked about digital economy, green technologies, creative industries and sustainable agriculture are not distant visions; they are living opportunities within your reach.”
Ramaphoi stressed that governments has placed local youth at the centre of its economic agenda.
“Through targeted programs, we are making sure the voice of the youth is not heard but amplified. These programs include access to finance tailored for young entrepreneurs, market lineages that connect local talent with regional and global opportunities, skills development in high growth sectors such as digital innovation, renewable energy and agribusiness; and mentorship and incubation hubs to support ideas from concept to sustainable enterprise,” said Ramaphoi.
The two-day conference is meant to create a platform for the international youth to share ideas, network, take leadership roles and have more global influence in the future of society.
“The youth lacks a space to speak. The conference is meant put them in the driver’s seat so that they and make change. A lot of young people feel excluded from the policy making …. we want to be that solution,” said youth leader and organiser, Yuyu Chen of the United Nations Institute for Social Research Development (UNRISD).
The theme of sharing ideas is very similar to the Call for Ideas Initiative’ that has recently been proposed and implemented by the new government of Botswana for its residents.
The delegates were selected from all six continents after responding to web-based promotion. The selection was based on reaction to and quality of the comments, with the latter taking precedence. They also factored nationality for the purposes of diversity.
The group will discussed six themes. After a two selection processes, the final five representatives will submit their policy recommendations to the United Nations.
It is the first time that the conference and the organisers intend to make it an annual event. They attracted to Botswana for practical reasons,
“ICA Africa thinks that Botswana have strong focus on youth development and youth empowerment. Secondly, this is safe country,” said Chen.
