Staff Writer
The first cohort of the EU-Namibia Youth Sounding Board (YSB) has completed its two-year term.
To mark the end of their service, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Namibia held a farewell event over the weekend at the EU residence in Windhoek.
Launched in July 2023, the EU-Namibia YSB was created to give young Namibians a platform to influence EU development work in the country.
The board brought together 25 youths between the ages of 18 and 30 from diverse regions and backgrounds to advise on EU policies and programmes in Namibia.
The initiative forms part of the Youth Action Plan in EU external action (2022–2027), which aims to include youth in shaping international actions that affect their future.
Over the past two years, the board members contributed to national and international discussions and co-led youth projects focused on digital skills, renewable energy, voter education, women’s rights, gender-based violence, and early childhood education.
They also helped organise the EU-Namibia Education Fair and other major activities.
Several members participated in key events such as the African Youth Climate Assembly in Kenya in September 2023, the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in April 2024, the Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event in October 2024, and COP 29 in Azerbaijan in November 2024.
EU ambassador to Namibia, Ana Beatriz Martins, thanked the outgoing members for their commitment.
“It has been a tremendous two-year journey, where the youths have contributed beyond expectations, with valuable ideas and very concrete actions, on critical topics like green energy, gender equality, education and civil rights education. We are proud of what the inaugural YSB has constructed and look forward to the work of the next generation,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of his peers, outgoing chairperson Mattheus Shivute reflected on the experience.
“Being part of the Youth Sounding Board has been life-changing. We showed that young people can lead and bring solutions. I’m proud of what we’ve done and confident the next group will do even more,” he said.
Martins announced that the next YSB cohort will begin in September.
The EU Delegation also said that outgoing members will remain part of youth networks and continue their engagement as YSB alumni.
