Love Drive Ministry Trains Salima Youths on Policy Formulation
The training was organized under the 'Takonzeka' project, implemented by Love Driven Ministries with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
SALIMA, Malawi- In a bid to bridge the gap between youth and policy formulation, Love Drive Ministries has equipped 60 youths from Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima with skills in policy making, writes Alinafe Nyanda.
Speaking at the event, Salima Central member of parliament Gerald Kapiseni Phiri underscored the importance of the training, stating that the knowledge gained will greatly help in addressing the existing exclusion of young people in policy formulation processes.
"I challenge young people, both in Salima and outside the district, to shoulder the burden of developing their country, emulating their forbears who liberated it and driving the developmental agenda," Phiri said.
"I will scale up support for young people so that they are well equipped and capacitated to be drivers of community empowerment, rural industrialisation and economic development that leaves no one and no place in my constituency behind."
Ishmael Adam, the executive director of Love Drive Ministries, emphasized the organization's commitment to ensuring active youth participation in contributing towards the development of the country, hence the decision to organize the three-day training.
"Lack of adequate understanding on policy formulation among young people continues to cripple development of the community," Adam said.
"Youth exclusion in policy formulation and implementation, especially in rural areas, is worsening their socio-economic well-being."
One of the participants, Hastings Chimbalanga, urged fellow youths to actively participate in politics, describing them as "powerful agents for positive development and socioeconomic change in the society."
With more than half of Malawi's population under the age of 18, the country's youth have the potential to play a vital role in their own development as well as that of their communities.
The training was organized under the 'Takonzeka' project, implemented by Love Driven Ministries with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), in an effort to equip the youth with adequate information on policy formulation.