On Wednesday 5th October 2016, YALDA hosted its sixth biennial i-Boot Camp, themed “Fostering Regional Integration for a Prosperous Africa: Transforming Youth Potential to Opportunity Across Borders” at the University of Buea and Mountain Hotel in Buea, Cameroon. The theme was focused on the fact that though Africa has achieved impressive growth, of around 5% per annum, over the past 15 years emerging as the second fastest growing region in the world, this growth has not translated into job creation for the youth. YALDA recognizes the fact that an emergent integrated Africa can only be fully realized if the continent takes advantage of its human resources which are characterized by a large youth population.
In the high intensity, fast-paced environment of this year’s i-Boot Camp, young leaders from 10 African Countries: Nigeria, Gabon, Botswana, Rwanda, U.S.A, South Africa, South Sudan, Lesotho, Chad and Cameroon, got to work.
Delegates came together to share, develop or expand their tangible ideas for implementation beyond their national borders. The i-Boot Camp’s demanding schedule encompassed site visits to youth-run businesses and community projects, industry specific panels, capacity building workshops, idea generation labs and idea feedback sessions. In addition, the conference aimed at inspiring, informing, training and catapulting young people into developing sustainable business and community ventures while synchronizing efforts for a regionally integrated Africa, ultimately spurring the African continent to greatness! The winning business idea was awarded $10,000 to help in its implementation.
