The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF-SADC) is a coordinating body and a regional platform for youth and youth organizations in SADC, SAYoF-SADC works with the SADC Secretariat, and is a youth representative in the SADC-CNGO. SAYoF-SADC is founded based on the increasing demand by young people to be important players and stockholders in regional processes, proffer solidarity at national and regional level, participation in sustainable transformation and in the agenda set by SADC Heads of State, the SADC Secretariat, SADC organs among other regional and International stakeholders, using the Youth Development Model (YDM). The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF-SADC) is the primary convener of the SAYoF-SADC Youth Forum and the SADC Youth Parliament. SAYoF-SADC is the Africa Focal Point in United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY-Migration) and a member of the Africa Youth Front on Coronavirus (Covid-19), a high-level policy and advocacy framework set by the African Union (AU) for young people to co-lead Africa’s response to Covid-19. SAYoF-SADC is also leading work on: Youth Leadership and Governance, Transitional Justice and Peace Building, Climate Change and Environment, Business and Entrepreneurship, Disability, Effective Development Cooperation and Integration in the Region. SAYoF-SADC sits in the SADC-CNGO Regional Committee on Africa Charter for Democracy, Election and Governance (ACDEG) representing young people in the region
SAYoF-SADC is composed of youth organizations, young people and formations working in all SADC member states, taking advantage of their diversity and innovativeness to transform lives at regional and national level. SAYoF believes that, youth in the SADC Region should be stakeholders, stockholders and leaders not only beneficiaries of regional and state resources as indicated in the Youth Development Model (YDM). SAYoF believes real transformation is when young people are sustainably part of the development trajectory and are at the center of policies and instruments by SADC and its member states.
