Since 2016, as a build-up to the African World Heritage Day, young people from all over the African continent come together in the African World Heritage Youth Forum to discuss and debate their involvement in the conservation, management, and promotion of World Heritage.
This year, African Digital Heritage was thrilled to be a part of the 5th African World Heritage Youth Forum, that took place on 29th April – 4th May 2021 with our finance manager, Viola Omina, ably representing the organization among 37 other participants from all over the continent. With the current uncertain times, the forum was held online.
The theme of the forum was Youth, Entrepreneurship and Heritage Sustainability: Building the Africa we want.
The five-day forum consisted of interactive oral presentations from youth participants and experts from different fields e.g., business, leadership, heritage etc., combined with hands-on activities, group discussions and workshops.
The concept of the forum was to empower African young generations through World Heritage. The forum was quite instrumental in empowering African youth through training and mentorship that will equip them with innovative and creative mentorship skills, mobilizing young people and harnessing youth creativity and innovation in World Heritage promotion and sustainable development efforts in Africa, encouraging young people to become responsible guardians of World Heritage sites across the region, among others.
At the end of the forum, the participants were expected to produce a feasible study of their business concepts and develop a business plan for their own business start-ups and/ expansions.
We congratulate our Finance Manager, Viola Omina, who’s pitch competitively made it to the top 6 participants and was awarded 2nd position.
“We’re developing augmented reality sound experiences that allow audiences to reconnect with their African culture in the hundreds of locations that are home to their history. Our dedicated mobile application will therefore allow users to access our sound maps and listen to narrations, audio dramas, music, poetry, and podcasts every time they visit their favourite tourist destinations and cultural institution. Through this combination of culture and technology, we aim to put the Kenyan culture and heritage on a global scale by ensuring that access is not a limitation as the pandemic has proven to close out many destinations to us. We also aim to give the platform for participation by welcoming contribution from our people as well as give an opportunity for continuous engagement. This will ensure that the culture and heritage remain alive and felt in every moment.”
VIOLA OMINA
On the 5th of May 2021, the forum ended by celebrating the African World Heritage Day.
In Viola’s words, ‘It was incredible experience to walk with our coaches and mentors throughout the pre-forum and during the forum. I acknowledge the invaluable role my mentor, Mr Agai Jones played. The promise from the partners of the forum to have youth at the forefront of upholding culture towards the Africa we want is what I am looking forward to seeing unfold.
