Letsike Leads SA Delegation at Kazan Global Youth Summit in Russia

The summit is an important annual event that brings together youth, policymakers, diplomats, and experts to discuss key issues on the international youth agenda.

Deputy Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, is leading a South African delegation at the Third Kazan Global Youth Summit in Russia, which is taking place from August 21-24, 2024. The summit is an important annual event that brings together youth, policymakers, diplomats, and experts to discuss key issues on the international youth agenda.

The 2024 Kazan Global Youth Summit is dedicated to a range of pressing topics, including digitalization, the use of modern tools in youth policy, and the role of traditional values in the globalization era. The event will feature sessions on best practices in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), digital trends and solutions in youth environments, and the mental health challenges faced by young people.

Deputy Minister Letsike is scheduled to deliver remarks during the High-Level Session on Youth Well-being in the XXI Century. This session will address the significant challenges impacting the mental health of young people worldwide. In addition to her participation in the summit, Deputy Minister Letsike will hold bilateral meetings with strategic countries attending the event.

South Africa’s Participation:

South Africa’s participation in the summit underscores the country's commitment to ensuring that its national interests and priorities related to women, youth, and persons with disabilities are represented in the global community. The summit's outcomes are expected to include a joint resolution and action plan, laying the groundwork for future collaboration on children's and youth initiatives within the Islamic World, BRICS, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Furthermore, a special session will be devoted to exploring best practices in developing AI, VR, and digital solutions among youth, aligning with South Africa's active role in BRICS Youth Summits and Ministers’ meetings since these platforms were established in 2015.

Deputy Minister Letsike is expected to share insights and outcomes from both the BRICS Youth Summit and the BRICS Youth Ministers Meeting during a feedback session after the Kazan Global Youth Summit. This will ensure that the knowledge gained and decisions made at these international platforms are conveyed back to South Africa to inform and shape the country's youth policies and initiatives.