By Agatha Namphimba

Children Voice of Malawi (CVM) says young people are facing numerous challenges in their communities which are affecting their wellbeing.

Administration and Operations Officer for the organization Veronica Nakoma said the challenges include dropping out of school and child marriages due to cultural beliefs.

Speaking during the opening of a youth training and the launch of Leadership and Advocacy Skills Programme in Mangochi on Tuesday, Nakoma said the new programme will help to impart skills to young leaders to improve their communities.

“As you know young leaders are facing a lot of problems in their communities so were excited to choose those young leaders from the community so that they should participate in this training to improve their community,” she said.

“I am expecting that these young leaders will participate in different community activities in improving livelihoods.”

Nakoma said the programme is targeting all districts in the country in order to reach out to thousands of youths to offer them a bright future.

“Young leadership programme will help the youth to address the constraints they are facing in their community and bring positive community change.”

One of the participants for the youth training, Samantha Feza hailed the training saying this will help them to gain leadership skills and improve her community in various ways.

“For example I can go into a community where l have to learn what this community is suffering from and then I have to know how to approach them by using my skills and understanding what their problem is and how I am going to apply those knowledge to those people,” she said.

She also advised her fellow youths to join and take part in any development activities that are happening in their communities saying this can help them gain more experience and skills.

The Leadership and Advocacy Skills Programme is aimed at empowering youths in the country for them to have skills and positive mind on how to solve problems.