By Sihlobo Bulala
Taking note of the imperative nature of project assessment and review, CYDT carried out an online assessment program with Gwanda youths. The program was meant to help shape the programming and coining of activities in a manner that strikes a responsive code with their targeted stakeholders in the future.
The past 3 years witnessed CYDT rolling out a project whose main objective was to enhance the youth’s voice in overall governance and development issues. Having been compelled to make sure that the youths are seen to be actively, and effectively participating in leadership and decision making, the organisation’s wish was and continues to be the enhancement and exposure of youths to such pertinent issues in a way that will see them capacitated enough and in remembrance of the youth related needs should they find themselves in positions of power.
The assessment program was conducted through Whatsapp and saw many Gwanda youths weighing the effectiveness of the organisation. With much keen and overwhelming interest, the youths shared ways in which they think would best shape their voice, involvement and inclusion in the near future.
Of importance to note is the review given by the youths, praising the organisation of having had provided viable platforms for youths to participate in numbers. Most of the youths that had been engaged with CYDT in varying programs, workshops and training gave testimony of their growth in awareness of pertinent things surrounding them, most of which provoked youth advocacy. Most youths gave testimonials on how their knowledge scope has grown beyond what they knew before as they have been exposed to such cultures as understanding the importance of issues like voter registration, understanding their constitutional rights and over ally unpacking the country’s constitution.
“CYDT has given youths a say and a platform to interact with people who are in leadership positions which might not have been impossible if the organisation wasn’t present” commented Meluleki Sibanda in response to the organisations review of their project so far.
“As young people we get to meet and have a dialogue with the local leaders only on platforms provided by CYDT. As youth we have boldly participated in pro youth policies where through CYDTs mobilization of youths to attend consultation meetings, there has been submission of position papers in relation to local governance,” said Constance Maseko.
“Through platforms created by CYDT youths have managed to get their views heard. As it stands, I want to believe Mat South is one of the province with the most vibrant and energetic youths. I have seen my personal growth and of my fellow youths through such programs” added another youth participant, Sakhi Ncube.
The ability to offer the youths a platform where they can be able to share a room of thoughts with their service providers was much appreciated as the youths continued to give their assessment of how successful the organisation’s objective was. This further enhanced the youth’s interest in participating in such activities for the necessary betterment of their communities, and it is through the organisation’s training of the youths on social responsibility that a satisfying appreciation of the youth’s role in bettering society was realized. It was also observed that through such engagements, the youths are now in a better position to hold the local authority into account for failure of project completion, and failure to provide a satisfying service delivery.
“CYDT has given youths a sense of belonging to the community as youths now feel inclined to make that little change and contribution into the community” said Mercy Mukwane.
“The voice of the youths has been amplified. Platforms of engagement and participation in service delivery have been established thereby creating a space for young people to be part of government processes.” Vusumuzi Ndlovu added and his contribution was concurred by Constance Maseko who observed that “the zeal in participation in governance was developed by trainings we had on social responsibility”
Another youth, Brilliant Ncube whose observation summarized the opinions of other youths added that
“We youths have managed to air our views and state our problems that we’re facing in communities and managed to have facial and virtual meetings with our leaders of local authority and nation at large. CYDT has given us some sort of power, positive influence and leverage to participate in local governance decision and policy making processes and procedures. We have been equipped with knowledge, skills and have abilities to partake on every part of governance and policy making that shapes us to be better future leaders”.
The tabled reviews awarded to the organisation by the youths show the gap which the organisation managed to cover, having seen that the youths are somewhat ignorant in aspects they should be in fact be thriving and showing interest in. Not only did the youths reveal their growth and maturity during the course which CYDT was working hand in glove with them, they also demonstrated their keenness in keeping the relations already established by the organisation as they offered solutions which would help widen the scope of the organisation’s interests while attracting new faces.
“The youth are a very social people; I believe we can make it our personal mission to inform our peers of the change they are capable of making or impacting by going out there and participating in major decisions using our own personal experiences in a way that shows how CYDT has enlightened us.” Josphine Ndlovu.
The youths further advised the organisation that they should try spreading their wings across all social media and online platforms so as to appeal to both the physical and virtual community of youths. It was also suggested that a database of youths within the Gwanda wards be compiled as this will help in attracting other youths who possibly are still not aware of the organisation and its mandate. Awareness to churches, schools and colleges was also considered as another strategy that will help generate and raise service delivery consciousness, civic participating and related matters awakening. Most of the suggestions on how the organisation should map the way forward were met with interest and as such, through the highly anticipated Jahunda FM which promises to be an online broadcaster of news related to Gwanda and beyond, youths hope that the initiative be a success as CYDT can also enhance their image through getting their programming heard through the online radio station.
In eyeing the 2023 elections, youths advised that CYDT should consider educating the youth on voter registration as had been observed that it is through the organisation’s voter registration education program which sought to help the youths understand the process of registering and why they should, that Gwanda and other districts have high voter registration numbers.
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