EMPOWERING YOUTH: DENEYE'S VISION FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

As Malawi prepares for next year’s elections, non governmental organization, Development Network for Youth Empowerment (DENEYE) is working tirelessly to empower the country’s youth to participate in the democratic process.

Speaking in an interview with Security Monitor Media Company Limited, Shalid Ishmael, Executive Director for DENEYE said as a youth led organization his organisation has several programs and initiatives aiming at empowering the youths, development network for youth empowerment has trained over 15 youths in different artisans and empowered them with different tools for their different artistic trained areas.

He said he has drilled youths in tailoring, fabrication and welding, bricklaying and bicycle repairing, the initiative was done in 2022 with support from UNICEF in conjunction with ministry of youth.

“It was youth innovation challenge , in 2023 deneye managed to organize clubs around its catchment areas that’s Chikweo, mtumbwinda and Adamson to engage in club farm initiative, which was a success as clubs managed to engage in different crop production including vegetable production and maize production.

“DENEYE in partnership with USAID MOMENTUM empowered youths as they have a responsibility in their health monitoring and access to health services, this program was done through the development of njoyako digital health application where youths were getting information in the process taking the responsibility of their health,” he said.

He added that bearing in mind that youths are busy now days DENEYE is main streaming with its current system of advocacy that’s community sensitization, the organization has social media handles where it disseminates most of the critical issues in addition to that DENEYE intends to have some door to door sensitization as it empowers youths to facilitate the processes in the sensitization thus those less abled in order to have a full participation from all groups of people.

“Mobility is a big challenge in the empowerment process, in order to address this challenge, development network for youth empowerment is ensuring to have the sensitization sessions close to the catchment of those disabled youths, in terms of discrimination DENEYE already sensitized the community on the negativity of the discrimination.”

He further added that the involvement of the youth from the clubs a lot of changes took place, adding that “the youth managed to reach and coordinate with village gates, Child Protection workers and other stakeholders in order to work hand in hand for the betterment of the community.

“We also conducted an in- school and out of school awareness of the project to fellow youth and children and orient them on importance of school. This happened in all the three T/A’S thus Mizinga, kapoloma and sale.

“Embracing back to school initiative, whilst working with in school initiatives notable students from different areas have managed to go back to school. Some of the notables are Nambaiko CDSS mentors clubs initiatives funded by youth wave as DENEYE is implementing partner where 15 students went back to school.”

Added Ishmael sustainability of the intervention due to limited funding is a challenge as many of the initiatives needs funding, as “DENEYE we are continuing with probing and sourcing funds for all its programs,
reluctance by some duty bearers thus some traditional custodians are reluctant to change or allow some youths to work in line with the program overview.’

“We will continue advocating for safe spaces in the community and continued sensitization on the same.”

He has called upon different organization and stake holders to work hand in hand with either in partnership or any kind of support for a better tomorrow and a resilience in the projects.