By Paul Awortwi-Mensah

African youth in the diaspora have been urged to be resourceful to ensure their own development and that of their respective countries.

Congressman Jim McGovern, who made the call, also appealed to federal government, state and city authorities to ensure that more resources are put in place to advance the development of the youth.

Congressman McGovern made the call at a Town Hall meeting organized by the African Council of Massachusetts in Worcester.

The Town Hall meeting, the third in the series organized by the African Council was also attended by State Senator Michael Moore, Worcester City Mayor Joe Petty and City Councilors Krystian King and Daniel Donahue.

Congressman McGovern, who spoke on variety of issues including immigration reforms, education, affordable healthcare, housing, agriculture and food security stated that there are a lot of educational opportunities in the USA and urged the youth to take advantage of these opportunities to develop themselves.

He stated that there are numerous financial assistance and grants that are available for the youth to be used in securing educational supremacy and urged the youth to tap these resources.

Congressman McGovern pledged his commitment to work hard to secure additional funds to ensure that people get the best education that they need.

Congressman McGovern, who is a member of the US House Committee on Agriculture, stated that the US Department of Agriculture has set up programs to help farmers overseas to ensure that food scarcity is reduced in Africa.
He mentioned for example, the Feed the Future Program which has been set up by the US Department of Agriculture to increase agricultural productivity and generate opportunities for economic growth and trade in developing countries
Congressman McGovern encouraged the African Community, especially the youth to consider engaging in farming and forming partnership with people in their respective countries to boost the harvests and incomes of rural smallholder farmers, who are the key to unlocking agricultural growth and transforming economies
Worcester City Manager Joe Petty asked members of the African Community to feel welcome and feel at home in Worcester as the city embraces the efforts the African Community is doing in the development of the city.
Ken Asafo-Adjei, Acting Chairman of the African Council of Massachusetts expressed his profound gratitude to Congressman McGovern for accepting the invitation to be with the African Community and also his efforts at ensuring the development of the African Council.

Asafo-Adjei, who is also the Coordinator of the Town Hall meeting stated that this is the third town hall meeting that the African Council has organized this year.

He mentioned that personalities that have been guests during the precious town hall meetings included Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore, City Councilor Candy Carlson, Worcester City Mayor Joe Petty and Worcester City Manager Edward M. Augustus.

Story by: Awortwi-Mensah, Paul, Worcester, Massachusetts