Evans Musonda, a youth leader from Youth Association of Zambia, says his organisation empowers young people to make choices and to individually and collectively contribute to national development.
He said the association teaches young people life skills on small business initiatives and to be responsible citizens. “Volunteerism is still a new concept and most people would want to go where their bread is buttered. But we have to convince them that it is for a noble cause, to help in community development,” Musonda stressed.
He said the association promotes dialogue on intra-culture and inter-culture among the 73 tribes in Zambia. Other projects that the Zambian youth are involved in, range from renovation of buildings, tree planting and information dissemination through music. He said as SAWC members, they would like to use their limited resources as a group.
The National Project Officer of Zimbabwe Workcamps Association, Ratherford Mwaruta said their aim is to promote national, international and regional understanding of volunteerism. “We look at issues of peace and reconciliation and reconstruction of our nation, including other issues affecting young people,” he said. He added that the association has had a huge impact in Zimbabwe with young people discussing issues of national importance.
He said that although the association is based in Harare, they have made sure that areas such as Matebeleland and the Midland, that have been disadvantaged by the past, have a lion’s share of projects. He said the association depends on the local community rather than international donors and this gives a sense of ownership to the people. Christopher Misuku of Active Youth Initiative for Social Enhancement (AYISE) of Blantyre, Malawi said that they deal with projects that focus on HIV/AIDS, human rights, democratic principles and environmental issues.
He said that although the association is based in the southern part of the country, it can spread its wings depending on the urgent needs in the north. “Volunteers want to have activities all the time in order to keep them busy,” he said adding that AYISE does not restrict itself to serving the youth. AYISE also advocates for children’s rights, curbing of child trafficking and child labour. Meanwhile, Ajude Youth Workcamps from Mozambique have been instrumental in the reconstruction of the country after the civil war. According to Horacio Changa, the workcamp - whose headquarters is in Maputo - attracts students from secondary to tertiary institutions. The youth participate in various projects like building schools, hospitals, tree planting, beach cleaning and preservation of the natural environment.
“HIV/AIDS, unemployment, education and housing are the problems that youth are facing in Mozambique,” he said.
In Swaziland, the workcamps association helps orphans with shelter, clothing and food. Charles Dlamini said the youth also make handicrafts as a source of income to sell to tourists.
Kabelo Thari, a publicity committee member of Botswana Workcamps Association, said they have been struggling with financial problems since their sponsor MS Denmark, pulled out. The support from donors has waned as they feel Botswana is a middle-income country. “Donors are now funding HIV/AIDS projects and the spirit of volunteerism is dying,” he said. He added that some people become discouraged along the way when volunteering, and that some are not willing to volunteer services, as money is a necessity. The BWA, whose headquarters is in Mochudi, is a national association started in 1980. It attracts 1000 members every year, from the age of 16 to 29, drawn from junior and senior secondary schools. “The problem becomes member retention, as some withdraw and dismiss the cause as a waste of time,” he said.
However, Thari asserts that the youth are exposed and learn different things and get to interact with others. The BWA members will participate in an orientation programme this weekend as they start a series of activities. They will volunteer in Mochudi for a cleanup campaign, in Mankgodi for a de-bushing, in Serowe at Central Primary School to create a park and Tatitown where they will help construct a VDC building. Thari said BWA is hosting 18 international participants from Germany, Holland, UK, Ireland, Italy and Japan who will be involved in a conservation work camp at Mokolodi Nature Reserve.
He added that 12 Batswana youth (graduates and secondary school leavers) would go on an exchange programme to Canada for over two months. The same number from Canada will come to Botswana.
The main purpose of the Mochudi meeting is to revive SAWC and reinforce friendship of member organisations. Members will also discuss harmonisation of the calendar events, regional fundraising, regional work camps and staff exchange and training.
