Young people in the country have called upon authorities to economically empower them if the country is to develop in all sectors.
The call has been made in Lilongwe during a National Symposium on Youth, Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Malawi (AGYWs).
According to one of the young people John Nyirenda, authorities need to invest in the youth through provision of various skills that can empower them economically.
He said: “We would like to see the translation of demographic divided into reality, we shouldn’t just be talking about the numbers of young people.
There is need to be a lot of investment that has to be done, one on capacity strengthening of young people, young people they need to have skills and two young people they have to be given opportunities for funding as well as opportunities regarding to their educational needs.”
Concurring with Nyirenda, Minister responsible for Youth Richard Chimwendo Banda called upon the donor community to pump in more resources towards ensuring that the youth are economically empowered.
“We need to move together. I am reliably informed that the organisation of this event has involved so many institutions. This symposium has shown, as government, that there are partners out there who are highly committed to work with our youth and AGYW.
We call upon our development partners and international NGOs to support and align yourself with the coordination mechanisms and frameworks in the sector. We stand to do better and greater things for the youth and AGYWs if we work together in a coordinated manner,” Chimwendo Banda said.
Meanwhile, Plan International country director Phoebe Kasoga has expressed commitment to reaching out to young people in the country with various skills.
She said: “Those that are pursuing education from what I have seen is to ensure that they have access to finances to go to school, either at secondary level or tertiary level, and I think we have been able to get into projects that will be able to support us.”
The symposium was held under the theme: “Towards an Inclusive Society: Amplifying Opportunities for the Youth and Adolescent Girls and Young Women”.
