Bring back youth week—DC

Dowa district commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko has asked government to reintroduce youth week programme to address environmental degradation.

The DC said the programme prepared and empowered the youth with skills and mindsets needed to adapt to future economic trends.

He said this on Thursday when he launched a Cleanup Campaign by youth clubs in partnership with Dowa District Youth and Sports Office.

Mdooko observed that the abolition of the programme in the early 1990s following the dawn of democracy robbed the nation of a platform for youth empowerment which taught them various skills for social and economic development.

 He said: “When some of us were in primary and secondary school, we used to have youth week whereby the youth would join their parents in caring for the environment.

“We need to come up with something like youth development week which would empower the youth with skills needed for socio-economic development.”

Dowa District Youth and Sports officer Monica Newa-Banda said youth clubs have resolved to carry out routine clean-up activities in all the markets and health facilities in the district.

She urged stakeholders and people of goodwill to join the youth in creating a clean environment.

Mponela Youth Club chairperson Lloyd Jekapu said time has come for young people to take a leading role in addressing environmental issues in their communities.

The goal of the clean-up campaign is to create a clean environment to the traders and customers in the district’s markets and other public places such as health facilities.