Youth urged to participate in environment matters

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday December 1, 2010 00:00

'It is the mandate of the youth to be involved in sustainable development of their communities, lend an advocacy role on issues that affect their communities as this will assist in facilitating policies and legislation that promotes sustainability,' said Ntsidzi Dube, interim chairperson of the organization at its launch in Kumakwane last Friday.

Dube said it is vital for the youth to be involved at all levels, from activism at grass roots level, participation in environmental conservation projects, to policy making.

She said that as a generation, young people are well placed to pioneer positive change due to adaptability, youthfulness, educational standing and the desire to influence decisions on the environment they stand to inherit. 

'Through educational institutions and technology, the youth have access to information that can benefit community learning,' she said.  

She explained that the association was formed by the youth to empower rural communities particularly other youth in driving sustainable economic benefits from natural resources and environmental conservation. 

The association, said Dube, intends to identify structures within communities, and conduct capacity needs assessments at both organisational and individual levels. 

'Capacity building action plans will then be developed for these community structures, which will then be implemented by the communities themselves under close guidance of the association,' she said.  

Dube indicated that the association will train and place youth volunteers within local structures to provide mentorship to locals. 

It will provide in-service training in the form of workshops, short term training and internships at local tertiary institutions. 

It will again provide guidance in grant proposal writing and grant management.

She said where there are no existing structures within communities, the association shall mobilise communities, in collaboration with Village Development Communities (VDCs) and in consultation with village leadership, to form such structures. 

The association will also work with rural schools to inculcate a sense of environmental awareness and to establish environmental clubs with the objective of raising awareness and appreciation of the environment.