International Youth Festival(IYF)

25/07/10

Story: Stephen Nana Osei Bonsu.

One thousand-eight hundred youth from 30 countries across the globe has participated in the third edition of the International Youth Festival (IYF)  in Accra.

IYF, the multi-cultural youth festival of music, celebrated annualy was staged on the theme, “Inspiring the youth for tomorrow” for the 2010 cultural festival camping.

The chairman and founderof IYF, Rev. Ock Soo Park in his welcome adress said, “Music is a moral law; it gives soul to the universe  and wings to the mind”.

He added that it has a charm to soothe a savage beast and education of it is virtue.

He cited that human relation is like the durine fruit, getting closer to it makes you relate to it profitabilly.

He expressed gratitude for the turn-out and urged all participants to merry, learn and gain quality education in such opportune programmes.

The Guest of Honour, The Sorts Minister, Hon Rashid Pelpoe, addressing the gathering, stated that youth have the tendency to know what will happen in the world but greatly exposed to danger.

Citing himself as an example, he proclaimed that life actually begun from his place of birth likewise the youth present.

He added that, welcoming ones surrounding and condition plays a major factor in ones development.

He further stated, “Knowledge for nothing, grab it; festival for nothing, grab it”, adding that such enactments broadens narrowed knowledge among youths.

He outlined that IYF festival of unity was an opportunity for the youth to redefine and reach out to all people.

He however challenged the youth to be agents of change in the future world.

The deputy minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Nii Nortey Duah stated that the the Youth and Sports minstry upholds high youth and cultural values.

He added that it was of such calls does the ministry engage in pan-African festivals for diverse cultural knowledge.

The occassion also witnessed splendid gospel song performances by the Gracias Choir from South Korea.

The 60-member choir, comprising only one Ghanaian and a Mexican, trilled the gathering to both english christmas carols and Ghanaian gospel songs.

Among the Ghanaian songs included 'halleluia-yesu do me', which made the gathering yell in excitement.

The birth of Jesus Christ was as well enacted amidst songs and motion in at the theatre.

The occasion however created  a platform for the promotion of cohesion among the youth  of the world.