Malawi Govt should address issues affecting youths –Timveni
Timveni, a media project which focuses on children’s rights and creates space for children to anonymously tell stories about the issues that affect them has called on government to address issues affecting the wellbeing of young people in Malawi which they raise through youth parliament.
Timveni programmes manager Phillip Kamwendo said this on the sidelines of a youth parliament held at Mame Motel in Mzimba.
The youth parliament pooled together 11 young parliamentarians representing the 11 constituencies in the district.
Kamwendo said youths and children in the country are facing numerous challenges ranging from unemployment, early marriages and child labour among others that are affecting their well being.
His organization holds district youth parliaments in order to give youths a platform where they could air out their views and find solutions.
The programmes manager however observed that issues and resolutions made during these youths parliament are not seriously being addressed by government and other stakeholders.
He said for instance issues of early marriages crop up in most youth parliament sessions but there is little effort being done in addressing it by government, chiefs and other stakeholders.
”Government and other stakeholders should address issues that affect youths as these youths are the bedrock of the country’s development,” he said.
Kamwendo said his organization is implementing a one year programme called strengthening children’s voices through participation as one way of giving youths an opportunity to help address problems affecting their lives.
The project is being funded by Plan Malawi to the tune of K18 million kwacha.
According to Kamwendo, the programme involves carrying out youth programmes on both MBCtv and radio 2, building the capacity of youth CBOs and conducting district child parliaments.
Speaking in a separate interview one of the parliamentarians Cease Gausi called for collaborative efforts in ending early marriages.
Timveni is a child and youth media organisation that enables the voices of children and youths in Malawi to be heard by decision makers through the media.
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