Kinshasa, DR Congo—Celebrated on August 12 of each year, International Youth Day did not pass unnoticed in the DR Congo in 2018. UPF-DR Congo commemorated the day by organizing an event on the theme, "Peace Starts With Me," with more than 1,200 young people and other guests, at which it launched the DR Congo chapter of the Youth and Students for Peace (YSP).
Distinguished participants included Mr. Samy Wetshi, representing the DR Congo Ministry of Youth; Dr. Florimont Tshioko, minister of social affairs of Kasia province and president of the National Peace Council; Mr. Michel Futila Dimayeko, secretary general of UPF-Central Africa; Mr. Jean-Pierre Kadima Mundadi, secretary general of UPF-DR Congo; Bishop Henry Kabasubabu of the Byzantine Orthodox Church and an advisor to the YMCA; Mr. Jimmy Matulu Mwana, president of the YMCA/YWCA of DR Congo; and representatives of various nonprofit organizations, including youth organizations.
The ceremony was opened by Bishop Kabasubabu, which was followed by the singing of the national anthem by the New Hope Chorale. Mr. Mwana welcomed the guests, and afterwards, Mr. Mundadi spoke about the YSP. The other dignitaries offered congratulatory remarks. The program also included dance performances, a Tong Il Moo Do martial arts demonstration, and various sports and games.
At the end of the event, the program’s banner, “Resolution and Launch of Youth and Students for Peace/Democratic Republic of Congo,” was signed by the visiting officials and representatives of the youth organizations, and finally by the president of the YSP-DR Congo.
The DR Congo Ministry of Youth and the YMCA were among a number of supporters of the event.