Road shows to disseminate youth rights
Youth Impact, a youth led non-governmental organisation which fronts the rights of the youth, has urged the youth to be proactive rather than reactive in development issues.
Speaking when Youth Impact held road shows at Nsanama in Liwonde recently, the organisation’s programmes manager, Daniel Kapichi, said the country has failed to develop because the youth are sidelined during the conception, implementation and monitoring of development projects.
“Now that young people have been taken on board in most development committees such as Village Development Committee (VDC), Area Development Committee (ADC) and even full council committee, it is time for them to be proactive rather than being reactive when monitoring how funds meant for development are being used,” Kapichi said.
He said there are about three youth representatives in most developmental grassroots structures which give them a leverage to provide checks and balances.
Cecilia Chivunga, Youth Impact executive director, said youth should not only participate in governance and development issues but also ensure that public funds are put to good use.
“Duty bearers should be responsive to the needs of the rights holders in terms of development and youth are better placed to speak out when there is mismanagement or abuse of funds meant for development,” Chivunga said.
The road show was spiced up with a live band, recital of poems, drama and quiz competition in which youth won branded T/shirts.
Youth Impact is working with Malawi Human Rights Youth Network (MHRYN), which is a network of 65 youth organisations in implementing projects in Machinga, Balaka and Lilongwe with funding from National Democratic Institute (NDI) amounting to $42 000.
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