LUSAKA, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- African youths have began a three-day meeting here Monday aimed at finding ways to participate effectively in the continent's development.

    George Chulumanda, Zambian minister of sports, youth and child development, said at the meeting, its theme is "Youth participation and leadership: Key to success for Africa's development", that African leaders have a big responsibility to ensure that young people have a stake in the development process.

    United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA) Africa Division Director Fama Hane Ba said no solution to Africa's most pressing problems could be found without the full participation of the continent's youths.

    "Young people must be involved in the development and execution of plans, policies and programs. If we do not work together, we will jeopardize our chances of success," he said

    The meeting has been organized by UNFPA in collaboration with The Africa Youth Forum, a network of civil society organizations dealing with youth issues. It expected to help the youths, from all over Africa, form networks and share experiences and find solutions to their problems.

    Betty Monje, a representative from Zambia, said that African youths can become a powerful force for the continent's development if they are involved in decision making.

    "It is thus essential that we, the youth, are brought on board in policy processes and make our voices heard," she said.

    She said that youths on the continent face a lot of challenges such as high unemployment rates, lack of educational opportunities and the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which could only be solved with the full participation of the youths.

    According to figures obtained at the meeting, half of the world's populations are under 25 years with an estimated 87 percent living in developing countries. Approximately 238 million youth worldwide live in extreme poverty.

    An estimated 11.8 million young people worldwide were living with the HIV/AIDS virus at the end of 2001, with 63 percent living in sub-Saharan Africa. Enditem