The Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation (PYAO) has oriented about 35 youth leaders who have been elected to various positions within their communities’ decision-making bodies, known as Area Development Committees (ADCs).
The day-long training, which was conducted on Thursday at Migowi Executive Lodge in the district, aimed to equip these leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance the youth agenda as Malawi strives to achieve its Vision 2063.
Speaking during the orientation, PYAO’s Executive Director, Vincent Thom, emphasised the importance of the training to help young people effectively promote youth agendas in the development plans deliberated and adopted by the ADCs.
“You will receive various development plans from the villages, and in your ADCs, you will prioritise which development projects should be implemented at a particular time. Remember, your fellow young people will look up to you, as you are their voice and eyes in these crucial development committees,” he stated.
Councillor Simon Abraham, Chairperson for Education, Youth, and Sports at the Phalombe District Council, noted that knowledgeable youths who understand their roles and responsibilities are vital for strengthening collaborations with other development structures.
“I would like to thank PYAO for organising this training with the limited resources available. It is crucial for effectively managing development affairs at the community level. Participants need to understand their responsibilities and decide who to involve at any given time, which makes this training essential for these youth leaders,” said Abraham, the Mauzi Ward Councillor.
District Youth Officer for Phalombe, Halson Bulangeti, commended PYAO for the orientation, expressing confidence that the newly elected leaders would fulfil their roles responsibly and contribute positively to the district's development plan.
“Young people are the leaders of today. I am pleased to see that some young individuals dared to participate in the elections for various ADC duty bearers in this district. I am confident they will excel and help the district achieve its development objectives. I would also like to thank PYAO for its commitment to supporting young people through capacity building,” he said.
In his remarks, Lazarus Mapeto, a 31-year-old who has just been elected Chairperson of the Chiwalo Area Development Committee, stated that the elected youth leaders are dedicated to advancing development ideas that will benefit their peers. They aim to ensure that their communities are developed through various available funds at the district level.
“We will do our best to enhance our respective communities while also advocating for the implementation of projects that benefit the youth. I want to thank PYAO for being an integral part of our journey, providing us with training to prepare us for roles in these important development committees,” he said.
Photos courtesy of Sasinu Tsoka- Citizen Journalist
