GFDD, FUNGLODE and InteRDom
Participate in Groundbreaking Youth
Forum at Summit of the Americas Trinidad, April 22, 2009
The vital role of Youth in the
future of the western hemisphere was
officially acknowledged with a
groundbreaking two-day Youth Forum,
April 15-16, 2009. The Forum was
held as part of the 5th Summit of
Americas in Trinidad and Tobago,
which promotes human prosperity,
energy security and environmental
sustainability.
In his opening speech, José Miguel
Insulza, Secretary General of the
Organization of American States,
(OAS) lauded the opening of the
Forum and recognized the critical
role Youth have to play in the
development of people and civil
society.
GFDD and FUNGLODE's program
initiative, InteRDom, Dominican
Republic’s leading internship and
academic study program, formed part
of the Youth Forum Agenda, which
addressed pertinent issues such as
training, access to jobs, capital,
entrepreneurship, emigration,
technology and crime and its effects
on younger generations. During a
panel entitled “Business Ethics and
Youth Entrepreneurship,” InteRDom
Coordinator Alicia Alonzo presented
the program’s objectives and impact
on the labor force in the Dominican
Republic. Ms. Alonzo emphasized how
young professionals fuel the labor
market and stimulate change and
competitiveness.
The pioneering Youth Forum,
organized by the OAS Young Americas
Business Trust (YABT), is the result
of four years of hard work
developing regional dialogues that
have included the voices of the
70,000 young people living in the
Americas. The on-going exchange of
ideas will form part of the Youth
Forum Declaration and the
Declaration of the 5th Forum of the
Americas.
During the two days of intense
meetings,
GFDD and
FUNGLODE, active supporters of
the objectives of the OAS and the
Summit of the Americas, had the
opportunity to present their
programs and projects to relevant
organizations and strengthen
long-term relationships and
partnerships.
