PANAMA CITY, Panama - Panamanian youth representatives from all sectors of society have urged executive directors of the Inter-American Development Bank to make investments in youth development projects a priority in areas such as entrepreneurship, training, political leadership, social services and applying new technology to education.
The youth leaders met with the IDB executive directors on Jan. 14 to examine issues and the needs of youth. The directors flew to Panama to visit several different projects financed by the Bank in different sectors.
The encounter with youth, moderated by U.S. Alternative Executive Director Jorge Arrizurieta, was coordinated by the IDB office in Panama, Panamanian ministries of Economy and Finance and Youth, Women, Children and Family and the IDB Youth Development and Outreach Program (IDB YOUTH).
Youth Minister Rosabel Vergara attended the meeting and stressed the government’s commitment to promoting youth programs and to working with the IDB on joint projects.
The IDB Alternative Executive Director for Panama, Eduardo Linares, said the dialogue with the youth leaders represented the priority the Board of Executive Directors placed on youth development projects.
Panamanian legislator José Isabel Blandón, one of the participating youth leaders, asked for increased IDB financing activity in youth development sectors.
The youth leaders represented diverse sectors of activity: rural and enterprise development, environmental protection, volunteerism, community development, gender equality promotion, informal education and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.
IDB YOUTH, promotes the development and active participation of Latin American and Caribbean youth. The program establishes alliances with the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and youth themselves in order to create a space where the voices and actions of young people have a relevant role in the development process. Currently IDB Youth is working on various programs including projects on sports development and employment, volunteerism & youth service learning, leadership capacity building and social entreprenuership.