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Weekly activity update 1
National Youth Development Trust
June 21, 2011

NYDT hosts US Ambassador

The National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) this week hosted the United States Ambassador, Charles Ray at the Brethren in Christ church in Cowdray Park. The event was attended by about 60 young people from the suburb who interfaced with the official to discuss issues of empowerment. The Ambassador encouraged young people to take charge of their destiny through converting their obstacles into opportunities for growth. He urged young people to take up volunteerism as a means of community development and nation building.

NYDT commemorates the Day Of The African Child

Youth Indaba:

More than 300 young people convened at the Bulawayo Theatre to commemorate the Day of The African Child. The organisation provided a forum for young people to discuss, voice concerns and proffer recommendations issues that affect young people. The topics under discussion included the Background of the Day of the African Child and Its Relevance To Young People's Struggles in Zimbabwe, Constitution Making Process: Exploring Opportunities For Effective Youth Participation In The Remaining Stages, Elections in Zimbabwe: An Overview and Youth Participation, Youth Economic Empowerment In Zimbabwe: Successes and Failures in the areas of mobilizing youth for elections and ways in which young people can effectively participate in elections, youth participation in the remaining stages of the constitution and youth economic empowerment. The forum also provided an opportunity for young people to reflect on the struggles of young people in the quest of improving their livelihoods. An energetic group of participants drawn from NYDT structures, civic society, political parties and from arts groups.

Public Speaking:

A schools public speaking competition was conducted at the Academy of Music. An approximate number of 375 students and teachers drawn from twenty (20) schools in Bulawayo participated in this event. This was a platform of active engagement, critical thinking by young people as they debated on topics ranging from the Day of the African Child, Reforms to the current education system and the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment. The top three schools which outcompeted their counterparts in order of success included Townsend High School, Northlea High School and Cowdray Park High School.

Leadership Forum:

More than 300 young people converged at the Bulawayo Theatre for a Leadership Forum, which was facilitated by Cont Mhlanga. The forum was oriented towards bringing a renowned community leader to share experiences, milestone achievements and challenges faced in their leadership journey and how they have countered such disparities in a bid to inspire young people. In addressing young people on his leadership journey in establishing Amakhosi Theatre, Mhlanga urged young people to take part in the socio-economic and political spheres and channel their energy in positive light. He spoke of leadership as a journey in which one has to negotiate their way through in order to achieve set dreams and goals.

Capacity Building Workshop:

41 youths in Lupane - Matabeleland North province participated in a one day capacity building workshop held at the Lupane Women's Centre on Friday 17 June. The workshop equipped youths with skills on leadership, community involvement and participation, mobilizing for change, lobbying and advocacy as well as community development. The workshop was aimed at offering youths the necessary skill to be proactive in decision making at grassroots level and on relevant issues in their communities. Pinned to these discussion points was the need for youths to proactively participate in the forth coming elections as the majority and as responsible citizens of Zimbabwe. This issue dovetails neatly with the election debate that was unrolled by NYDT last month at youth policy dialogue and focus group meetings.

Lupane Youth Council in Session:

Youth Councilors in Lupane sat in for their full council session on Saturday 18th of June 2011. This becomes the 2nd session to be held since their election early this year. The youth council session was held at Lupane Women's Centre where the youth councilors reflect on the progress they have made in the last few months as well as made recommendations on the programmes to be implemented before the next session. This session was historic in that the youth councilors managed to adopt the Lupane Youth council's Handbook which acts as a magna carta to the proceedings of the council. The Handbook is a binding document to both the Youth Councilors and National Youth Development Trust (NYDT). Another positive from the session was that the Councilors managed to form their committees which include, the Disciplinary Committee, Information and Publicity, Fundraising and Programs. These committees were in line with parameters set in the Handbook

Policy Dialogue meeting:

18 youths attended this Policy Dialogue meeting in Masinyane area, on the 18th of June 2011, to discuss the topic Youth mobilization for meaningful participation in the forthcoming elections. The objective of the meeting was to provide the marginalized young women and men of Lupane, a platform to discuss the forthcoming election issue as well as interact with the local leadership on policy issues. At this meeting young people expressed concern on rushing elections when there was still a lot of politically motivated violence talking place in rural Zimbabwe. They called on their local leaders to advocate for peace not be the gang leaders in instances of political clashes which has been the case during many election periods.

Focus Group Discussion (Gender):

NYDT, in line with its gender policy and gender mainstreaming stance, convened a gender focus group discussion in Lupane on Saturday 18th of June 2011. The discussion aimed at providing participants with an overview of gender issues, concerns, strategies and ways in which they can engage in community issues with a sensitive focus on gender. The whole platform was oriented towards enhancing young people's knowledge on gender issues as well as allowing them to share on how they feel gender disparities can be adequately addressed in their respective communities. The activity was attended by 30 youths of which 27 of them were females.

Upcoming Activities for this Week (20 - 25 June 2011)

Visit the National Youth Development Trust fact sheet

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