James Odit, Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) in Africa, has praised the Zambia Youth Workers Association (ZYWA) as a 'model' organisation for youth workers across the continent.

The group was formed in 2006 by graduates of the Commonwealth Diploma in Youth Development to support collaboration among practitioners.

The Association seeks to self-regulate the profession, to protect the youth and public from incompetent practitioners, to organise and lobby for youth empowerment programmes and to carry out research and policy development activities related to youth work in Zambia.

The members are inspired the ideals of the Commonwealth and guided by the Zambian National Youth Policy.

The ZYWA is the first one of its kind to develop through the work and principles of CYP and Mr Odit believes that ZYWA has become a 'model association'.

Diploma

The CYP Diploma in Youth Development Work is designed to provide youth workers with an underpinning knowledge on which to base their work with young people; an understanding of the values and ethics of the profession, grounded in the values and principles of the Commonwealth; and the practical skills to undertake the work.

In just two years, they have developed a constitution, a draft code of ethics and professional conduct, as well as a three-year strategic plan. They have also conducted a study of Lusaka Youth Workers, which found that the field of youth work is populated by volunteers without relevant training, youth organisations which do not provide support for ongoing training and younger youth workers who are more likely to change careers.

"We will be promoting the establishment of youth worker associations within the Africa region and have developed guidelines for these," Mr Odit said.

CYP has already been contacted by youth workers in Uganda, Namibia, the Seychelles and Botswana to provide technical and financial support towards setting up such associations.

Mr Odit said: "I see it enabling youth development practitioners to come together as a lobby group that will enable better recognition of youth work as a profession. Another role is to allow the sharing of experiences in the area of youth development work."

Lack of human and financial resources present a challenge to youth development in Africa. The problems are compounded by the region's large youth population -- about 60 per cent of Africa's estimated population of 920 million is below the age 24. Young people in the region face a number of challenges themselves such as unemployment, poverty, the spread of HIV and AIDS, and low levels of literacy.

Mr Odit said: "There are therefore many young people who need to be supported. This is a development challenge, but the large numbers of youth also provide the potential to improve future development prospects in Africa. Policy actions are therefore needed to expand youth opportunities and give them the skills to participate fully in the economy and public life, and promote healthy behaviour."