PYD Press Statement on the International Youth Day-12 August
Platform for Youth Development
PYD Press Statement on the International Youth Day-12 August
“All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth” Anonymous.
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) joins the whole world in commemorating the International Youth Day. This year’s (2010) commemorations are being held under the theme Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. It is important to note that the commemoration of this day must be a moment of stock-taking and reflection from all the sectors of the society. This is an opportunity for the international community and the UN system to demonstrate their commitment to the young people. PYD challenges that the International Youth Day must be for nation building, one that raises human rights awareness while show-casing the power, strengths and energies of the youth. This year’s celebration coincides with two very historic events in the life of Zimbabweans, namely the Constitutional Making process and the National Healing program.
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) fully subscribes to the philososophy of youth empowerment through mainstreaming-a process for meaningful engagement and broad interrogation of young people into structures and activities of social development on a daily basis. Dialogue and mutual understanding requires consistent, committed youth-adult co-operation at every level, where the young people are recognized as equal and valuable partners. Mainstreaming as an approach, aims to support young people to fulfill their roles effectively in their societies.
As an organization, we are very much concerned and worried that the ongoing constitutional reform process still leaves a lot to be desired, in that the youth having been under represented ,are worse still not being effectively consulted. Party positions have already been imposed on all major issues of constitutional debate, leaving the young people exposed to either challenging their political leadership or succumbing to these well circulated narrow positions. This God –given opportunity for the youth to shape their destiny is fast becoming a painful nightmare.PYD therefore challenges the COPAC team to stand strong against politicians and ensure that the people are genuinely allowed to freely express themselves. Participation of the young people in the first phase of the constitutional process has been critical and leaves a lot to be desired, therefore needs to be improved.
On another hand, the National Healing program remains a contestation of political party players instead of genuinely addressing its objectives as spelt out in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). While the principals to the political agreement have made public statements against violence, the youth have been completely left out in the cold. The national healing will remain a farce unless and until the youth who were victims and perpetrators are involved at every stage of this important assignment of the nation. Fresh cases of political violence and rivalry in the rural areas are continuing unabated.
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) believes that national youth development must be the sole responsibility of the government. It is in light of this strong conviction that we therefore urge the government of the day (GNU), through the youth portfolio, to be more practical in the youth planning, public policy and youth programming. Youth issues should be mainstreamed across various sectors and line ministries such as health, finance, economic development, housing, justice, foreign affairs and Agriculture.
As an organization, our youth empowerment programming is informed by a two-pronged strategy. While we believe in youth participation through sustained dialogue, we are also sensitive to the need for gender mainstreaming. In any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes it should always be important to assess the implications for women and men. PYD’s strategy is to make young women as well as young men’s concerns and experiences become an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal sphere .Yong women and young men must benefit equally so that the inequality historically suffered by women, is not perpetrated.
Cognizant that youths in the rural areas represent a disadvantaged and marginalized social group, and taking note that the youths forms the majority of the global poor ,the vulnerable and the unemployed, PYD is therefore pro-poor and pro-youth in its programming.
PYD therefore recommends that
- The Government of National Unity considers the adoption of the YET Advocacy Resource Pack on the National Youth Policy and Youth Development
- The constitutional reform process and the National Healing program revisits their implementation criterion, with the view of increasing participation of the youth
- The GNU works closely with the existing youth organizations, especially those in the rural areas, to popularize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) is a non-partisan, non-discriminatory and grassroots based youth organization that was formed by victimized youth to act as a platform, network and bridge for the youth in all spheres of life to articulate issues affecting them particularly relating to development, democracy, good governance, peaceful co-existence, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. PYD therefore seeks to bring together marginalized youth in rural and urban areas, farms, growth points and resettlement areas, church-based youth organizations including youth organizations for young women with a view to empowering them and to ensure their meaningful participation in championing the cause of democracy, respect for the rule of law, peaceful co-existence and good governance.
Compiled by the PYD Information department.
For more Information contact the Director-Claris Madhuku on platformtrust@gmail.com,dhukela@yahoo.com
Cell: 0913 010 331, 0913 011 599,
