Cultural and sports events highlighting youth development and leadership in Latin America and the Caribbean set for March 15 and 17
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the government of Uruguay will hold a Youth Day on Thursday, March 15, in Montevideo, to recognize the contributions youth make to sustainable and equitable growth in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Youth Day will kick off a series of events to mark the Annual Meeting of the IDB’s Board of Governors set for Montevideo March 16-19. The meeting will be attended by government officials, business leaders, and representatives of civil society, who will address key economic and social issues facing the region.
The youth activities will begin Thursday, March 15, at 9:00 a.m., in the community center of the Montevideo neighborhood Casavalle, where the IDB and other institutions and private firms have supported the rehabilitation of a soccer field and a theater, the donation of equipment for a health clinic, and the creation of a computer center.
Participants in the event will include officials from the Uruguayan government, the city of Montevideo, and the IDB, as well as Uruguayan soccer and popular music stars.
At 2:00 p.m. in the SODRE National Auditorium, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno will honor a group of young Latin American and Caribbean leaders who have made notable contributions to the development of their communities.
After the ceremony, at 2:15 p.m., a workshop will be held on boosting the participation of youth development through culture, sport, and innovation.
Participants in the seminar panels will include Julio Bocca, director of the National Ballet SODRE, Oscar Washington Tabárez, head coach of the Uruguayan soccer team, Josep Cortada, director of the FC Barcelona Foundation, and representatives of social organizations and companies known for their innovations.
The seminar will conclude at 8:00 p.m. with a performance by Uruguayan percussionist Nicholás Arnicho, the youth symphony orchestra Sembrando Talents directed by Nicolas Giordano and the Brazilian group Galpāo Aplauso, a cultural project that promotes social inclusion financed by the Multilateral Investment Fund.
On Saturday, March 17, at 3 p.m., a section of Montevideo’s Rambla will be turned into a bike path where city residents will be invited to bike from the Ciudadela to the Canteras of Parque Rodó. The event aims to raise awareness among young people on topics such as road safety, health, education, and volunteerism.
The day will conclude with a large free concert in the Canteras of Parque Rodó, which will begin at 8:15 p.m. Uruguayan musicians Edú “Pitufo” Lombardo, Jaime Roos, and the Cuarteto de Nos will be performing during the event. The DJ will be Mauricio Parra of MTV.
The youth events are being sponsored by the government of Uruguay, the Intendencia de Montevideo, the Municipio D, the IDB Youth Program, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Fund, PepsiCo, Gatorade, Microsoft, MTV Latinoamérica, the Telecentre.org Foundation, A Ganar Foundation and Partners of the Americas.