EU committed to empowering Eswatini youth
EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, said this on 14 August 2025 at Gege Constituency during the national commemoration of International Youth Day attended also by the Prime Minister, Russell Dlamini, and Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima.
Ambassador Mecklenburg said the EU’s commitment to supporting Emaswati youth was premised on the reality that young people are not just leaders of tomorrow, but also powerful agents of change.
He said that is why the EU, through its current Human Capital Development and Social Inclusion Programme, has undertaken to empower the youth in Eswatini with the necessary skills to allow them to contribute to Eswatini’s development objectives.
“It is our hope that such youth empowerment will result in the youth taking the driver’s seat in the country’s development, thus contributing to improved quality of life for all Emaswati,” said the Ambassador.
He added that in 2022, the EU adopted the Youth Action Plan, which has since become a key document aiming at engaging youth, connecting and empowering.
The Ambassador said the EU Youth Action Plan was aligned with the Eswatini National Youth Policy and the Eswatini National Development Plan.
“Therefore, celebrating International Youth Day reaffirms the EU’s commitment to empowering young people and working with them to create a better future for all,” said the Ambassador.
