Malawi, the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) has embarked on a nationwide tour to spotlight youth-driven innovation and amplify success stories.
The tour, which is being championed by NYCOM Executive Director Rex Chapota will also help to engage with young change-makers shaping their communities.
Chapota said through the campaign, NYCOM wants to shift from passive consultation to real-time engagement, where youth voices are heard and their innovations supported at the source.
“So, this campaign which we are calling The ED’s Impact Tour, wants to build things from the ground up where we want to take the NYCOM to the youth themselves and allow them to voice their concerns and allow the organisation to respond to their questions at source,” he said.
Chapota said through the initiative, the council hopes to deepen its collaboration to ensure youth initiatives receive the recognition and support they deserve.
He also said through the campaign, the council aims to not only highlight youth innovation, but also unlock partnerships that will elevate such initiatives.
“For a long time, we have been calling on the youth across the country to approach us which sometimes has proven to be a challenge and we believe it is time to change that kind of approach,” said Chapota.
The NYCOM director has since called on the youth in the country to engage with their local councils, a development he says will enable the organisation locate them easily.
He said currently, NYCOM has held compaigns in Balaka and Phalombe districts where tremendous youth involvement in agriculture, innovation and entrepreneurship has been unearthed.
“What I have seen so far during my tour are youth who are not waiting for change, but creating it,” he added.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe-based youth rights activist Rabson Woodwell-Banda has commended NYCOM for organising the campaign, saying it will give youth an opportunity to voice out their expectations to the right office.
