The Youths Must be Heard

Democracy gives power to the people to have a say and to play active roles on issues that affect them and their communities. Before some serious decisions are made, there is need to consult the grassroots. This is the reason why our parliamentarians usually say that I made such such a decision after I consulted people of my constituency.

This is what makes democracy a very good system of government because of such decentralised elements in the operations of power holders. This element greatly elevates democracy on top of all other systems of government.

However, a closer look at the consultation process itself shows that the youth are not involved in such processes. This is in spite of the fact that older people who are in authority today are just caretakers waiting for a time whereby the youths will take over the mantle.

Furthermore, it seems the powers that be are not aware that the youths do have a lot of expectations from their leaders. They have a lot at stake and they really need to be heard because they have a voice too.

They are the ones who know how long and how hard they travel to reach a nearest primary or secondary school. Just like their elders, they also get sick and use the same local public clinics that are in their area and they badly need Sexual Reproductive Health Services and information. The youths also need recreational centres where they can go and productively spend their time. Thus, avoiding a number of immoral behaviours they could have engaged themselves into.

The list of their needs is too long and their concerns are so numerous for someone to just guess. The youth have a voice and they really need to be consulted.

 There is overwhelming evidence that proves that youth involvement in the formulation or implementation of projects and programmes leads to their success. When the youths are involved right from the start, a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the initiative develops in them and it leads to its success.

Meaningful participation will enable the youths to align their youth development programmes with the needs of their communities, schools and young people in the society.

My plea is that the youth should have a say on issues that affect them and their communities.

Building Women’s Self-confidence

Now it is good that it is a widely known fact that women are capable of doing things that were thought to be predominantly male tasks. Individually or collectively they have the ability to make a positive difference for this and for generations to come. 

The question that ringers in most people’s heads remains, ‘why are the women still lagging behind the men when it comes to leadership and holding decision making positions?’ if there are some areas that need to be explored to change this, now is the time to do so.

It is high time Peace loving Malawians embraced the idea of equity so as to ensure gender equality in the designated communities where we live in. some women out there also need some schooling on gender equity and equality. Some women look down upon themselves or upon their fellow women believing that only men are capable of leading the way. Such women are so indoctrinated, either by culture of their abusive husbands and they tend to believe that they are incapacitated by their femininity. This is also the kind of mentality they instill in the minds of their daughters who grow up to be dependent on men for everything just like their mothers.

The Millenium Development Goal number 3 is achievable and to do so will also need us to tackle this kind of mentality whereby some women have an overwhelming inferiority complex about their femaleness.

For emphasis’ sake, a good example could be that of widows who thought everything is up for them after the demise of their husbands. Later on in life they made it after opening up their eyes then start thinking about their children and realize that there is no one else but themselves who can turn their family’s financial woes. There are a lot of such female headed households that are doing much better economically all due to their hard working spirit to an extent that they are better off than some male headed households. This is one of the numerous proofs we have to illustrate the point that women are capable only that sometimes they underrate themselves.

There is need for considerable career guidance talks to young girls in primary and secondary schools. Successful women are also supposed to get organized and do something to make their fellow women understand that being a woman does not imply anything negative
.

Women are the ones who raised CEOs, ministers, presidents and all significant people we see in our society today and they cannot fail to take up such positions themselves. Girls are born with equal capabilities as boys but it is the society that changes the order of things and makes the girl child learn otherwise. In this light, there is also need for some efforts to be directed towards building their self confidence.

16 Days of Activism Against GBV

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign that starts on the 25^th day of every month of November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign hopes to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international level.

This year’s theme is ”Let’s challenge aggression and end violence against women and girls”

Malawian girls and women face a lot of challenges whenever they are trying to seek justice after experiencing gender based violence. There are a number of issues that need to be addressed so as to enable the women and girls who are the most vulnerable groups to access justice and protection.  There is need for political will to facilitate decisive actions against the perpetrators.

 However, the Malawi government has tried to show its commitment by enacting a number or laws and policies to ensure that the survivors of Gender based violence and abuse are assisted accordingly and that the perpetrators are brought to book. Furthermore, on the part of the civil society, there are a number of organizations and institutions that are doing a wonderful job on the ground. Most survivors of violence and abuse easily get the necessary assistance.

 YONECO is one of the organisations in Malawi which is fully taking part in fighting against violence that is perpetrated towards women and girls. The organization further advocate and lobby for more enabling policies and laws so as to support the victims. Furthermore, the organization offers counseling to the survivors or others who are experiencing abuse.

There are so many effects and aftermaths of GBV and in the long run they hold the societal values. An abused woman lives in fear, unable to predict when the next attack will come. She may become isolated from friends and family, and sometimes they increasingly get dependent on the abuser. In these circumstances it can be very hard to make sense of what is really happening. Over time her self-esteem wears out and an abused woman or girl may start to believe in the abuser’s insults. She may blame herself for the abuse or deny that it is taking place. The end result is very disastrous and such indoctrinated people cannot positively contribute to the development of their societies.  If it is a married woman, she just ignores the abuses and neglect and hope that her partner, the man she loves, will change.

“Let’s challenge aggression and end violence against women and girls”

LET THE CHILDREN LIVE

                    

Every person has a right to live without any form of fear and more especially our children. I believe violating this basic human right is a great disgrace to our society and an indication of how really twisted some people's minds have become.

In one incident, a certain girl aged 6 was raped by a 30 year old man. What if it were you? I have come to believe that we live in a strange world and this is not the kind of world that we would like our children to grow up in. There is no point in just watching the youths and children face such hardships while we can summon our courage and boldly do something against such barbarism.

I therefore appeal to all leaders, academicians as well as youth and child rights groups to get together and find ways to restore the consciousnesses of the people and fight this strange disease.

HIV/AIDS Interventions Should be Inclusive…

It is very alarming that most sex workers are young girls who are usually between the ages of 12 to 19 years. Many of the girls find themselves into such kind of work due to several circumstances and among them is poverty which ranks highly in the list of major driving factors. 

The young girls’ explain that they lack money to make ends meet in their day to day life and that they have no other means of earning income apart from the sex work activities. Whether their reasons are justifiable or not, one thing that is outstanding is that they are human beings

Some quarters in the society believe that sex workers engage into such activities just for fun and to enjoy.  Spare your time and chat with them you will find out that the enjoyment is a last thing on their mind and the furthest thing that is away from the truth.

Each and every day of their lives is marked by so many trials as well as tribulations and their conditions in life are very dreadful in every sense of that word. They are molested, tortured and they even suffer harshest forms of physical abuse.

Many organizations shun and perceive them as abnormal human beings with no value in life. However, one thing we have to bear in our minds is that they are also human beings and by extension they are also entitled to the same human rights that we enjoy.

Involving them does not mean supporting sex work activities. In addition to that, you cannot just call someone immoral and just watch while others dehumanize and violate their rights and freedoms. If we are to put the spread of HIV on check then our strategies need to be inclusive.

YONECO is one of the organizations that are implementing a project which involves sex workers. With funding from the National Aids commission, the organization is able to conduct trainings and workshops for these girls whereby they are being civic educated on human rights and how they can play their part to reduce the spread of HIV.

This is mainly due to the fact that their line of work puts them and others at risk of getting HIV. The organization has established Drop in Centres where these girls discuss issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS and their welfare.

 This has proved to be very helpful as it has changed the mind sets of other sex workers who just joined the industry because of peer pressure and other unjustifiable reasons. Some of the girls are planning to go back to school and others are reducing the number of hours they work and looking around for other jobs while others are interested in starting legitimate businesses and looking at avenues to make the transition.

 They are confidently expressing their desire to change. Here is something that is happening that can protect and change the lives of many. Discriminating these people cannot and will not change or solve anything but involving them will change things.

If you are fighting against the spread of HIV, one thing you have to know is that excluding some groups of people in the society is counterproductive.