21 August 2007
editorial
Ndola — THERE appears to be a gap between policy formulation and implementations on issues related to the welfare and development of the youth.
We say so because despite the Government devising a youth policy and strategies on how to improve the welfare of the youth, there is still very little happening on the ground.
On many occasions, youth organisations and others who have offered to help develop the young people issue statements or embark on programmes that are not in tune with the national youth policy.
There are a lot of programmes that have been organised for the youths but not many are succeeding for various reasons.
The Government must take a deliberate step to carry out sensitisation and awareness campaigns on the national youth policy and as well as facilities, programmes and institutions that can help them.
For instance, it is not clear to many youths on how they can access the policy document or indeed the youth empowerment fund that the Government has set aside in the Budget.
Of late, there have been cries from the youths to have access to the money but from their statements, not many of them know the procedure or who to approach.
Going by what Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and Child Development Angela Cifire said, the YEF is a well meaning programme which if properly implemented can help uplift the lives of some of the youths. Unfortunately, not many youths or organisations have sufficient knowledge about it.
Apart from Government, other stakeholders should develop a form of directory that will show which organisations, and other institutions are involved in youth development. This will make it easier for all to seek or provide help to the young people.
As a matter of fact, youth matters should be factored in all development plans as is happening to gender matters as a way of helping elevating youth development on the agenda.
What has also been lacking is provision of funds to kick-start businesses after acquiring skills. It is common to seek organisations spend huge sums of money to train young people and later dump them on the streets.
The ideal should be that funds should be set aside so that these trained youths have opportunity to begin some business instead of letting their skills waste.
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