Young people in Toliara wish to play an active role in the development of the Atsimo Andrefana region. They made this clear yesterday. A carnival in traditional attire kicked off the celebration of International Youth Day in Toliara. Yesterday, young people departed from the Ankilifaly Youth House to reach the emblematic site of Ankilisoafilira. A place of exchange, demonstration and exhibition that has made the City of the Sun famous. The official ceremony was attended by the prefect of Toliara, the deputy mayor of the city, representatives of decentralized services in the Atsimo Andrefana region and UN organizations. Indeed, the youth representative who took the floor thanked local authorities and urged young people to constitute themselves as a force for development in the region. "Your presence testifies to your solidarity with the cause of youth. Your presence is an honor for the youth of Toliara," said Jean Bernard Tovondrainy, member of the Toliara Municipal Youth Council and president of the youth association "Arinosy Communication," addressing the guests. He added in his speech that the event is not a simple parade. "It is to demonstrate that young people are a force for change, which among other things contributed to the advent of the new regime in which the country currently lives," he emphasized. Basile Casimir Rambeloson, regional director of Youth and Sports for Atsimo Andrefana, explained that he was particularly proud of the young people of Toliara. "The youth of Atsimo Andrefana are physically and intellectually advantaged. They are important resources for the development of the region and the country," he noted. Jean Bernard Tovondrainy says he does not like the term "problem," but prefers to use the word "challenges" when speaking of the obstacles and constraints faced by young people in Toliara. Mirana Ihariliva