ChildFund Zambia has called on Government to implement laws and policies that prioritize the youth’s needs and create enabling environments for them to thrive.
ChildFund Zambia Technical Manager – Youth, Livelihood and GIK (Gifts-In-Kind) Nicholas Mushimba says it is important for education programs to be reimagined to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth to tap into their energies for good.
Mr. Mushimba was speaking in Lusaka today to mark the International Youth Day of Service, observed annually on August 12, under the theme, “Green skills for youth: Towards a sustainable World”.
“This day is a powerful testament to the potential, energy, and compassion that young people around the world possess, and their unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on our society. On this day, we also recognize the immense contributions of our young people to our society and to acknowledge the importance of nurturing their aspirations, dreams and ambitions. As ChildFund we recognize that youths have the power to take public matters into their hands and use their collective power to be the change they want. They are able to do this because they are in the majority,” he said.
Mr. Mushimba said Africa itself is the youngest continent with 70 per cent of people in Sub-Saharan Africa under 30.
“Statistics also show that 20 per cent of the world’s youth reside in Africa, with the number projected to double by 2030. This presents great opportunities to boost Africa’s growth—but only if the youth are supported to realize their full potential,” he said.
Mr. Mushimba said in Zambia, the youth equally make up more than one third of the country’s population.
“These should be considered as not just leaders of tomorrow, but also change makers of today. We have seen a lot of innovations spearheaded by young people. However, young people still face many socioeconomic challenges, such as lack of skills to access decent job opportunities and high rates of unemployment. These challenges call for urgent action so that young people can realize their full potential and actively participate in the country’s development and growth. We recognize and appreciate the efforts many actors are making to create platforms that promote youth voices, especially in governance and civic engagement, participation in budget decision-making processes and advocating policies that reflect their interests,” he said.
Mr. Mushimba said more still needs to be done to enable the youth become partners of positive social change.
“The International Youth Day, is a good moment to enhance focus on our youth. The event is designed to harness the creativity and voices of the youth for actualization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by equipping them with the resources, skills and tools for personal and community transformation,” he said.
Mr. Mushimba said ChildFund has, therefore, partnered with Leap Africa, Dow and district partners to support young people in various districts to celebrate the Youth Day of Service.
“In line with this year’s theme, “Green skills for youth: Towards a sustainable World”, the youth working with ChildFund will engage in various programs focusing on mitigating the impact of climate change and promoting entrepreneurship,” he said.
Mr. Mushimba said ChildFund will continue supporting and empowering youths with skills to acquire gainful employment or create employment for themselves and fellow youths.
“In addition, we are empowering youths with capital to start or improve their businesses. This will help to improve their livelihood. To our partners, let me say we can and must continue to do more for our young people. This is the only way we can reap great dividends from their energy and innovation to drive the country’s socioeconomic growth and development. Let me end by saying youth service is not limited to a single day, it must be a year-round commitment to making a difference. The youth of today are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today, driving change with innovative ideas, boundless energy and an unwavering belief in the power of collective action,” he said.
