The newly formed Youth Network of Malawi (Yonema) says youths in the country should connect as one way of sharing their experiences and solutions to various problems they face so that they can effectively contribute to national development.
Speaking in an interview, Yonema project manager, Vasco Madhlopa, said the network wants to connect youths across the country so that they can easily be identified when there is any opportunity targeting them.
He also said the network wants to economically empower all the youths through businesses, jobs, behavioral change and capacity building.
“All these issues have been talked for many years by other stakeholders but the problem was that there was no network to link the youth. Yonema has been formed to create its own opportunities. What we need now is support from the government and companies. It’s time we bring hope to the hopeless youths. It’s time we stopped blaming anyone or the government for our problems. Now it’s time to join hands and work through this connection. Through Yonema, Malawian youths will now speak with one voice on their problems,” said Madhlopa.
Madhlopa said the network has lined up a number of activities which include practical business trainings, accessible cash loans to all youths with viable business proposals, research, career counselling and job creation.
The network also says it will be available for charity work, civic education, climate change management and sanitation.
According to Madhlopa, the network has been assured of support from youth organisations in Europe and the United States of America. He added that youths are joining the network through the facebook page called ‘Youth Network Malawi’.
