Youth Voices for Change Summit Takes the Lead in Bridging the Gap Between Students and Leaders in Nakuru
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Rongai-based lobby group Dandelion Africa has launched a platform dubbed ‘Youth Voices for Change Summit’.
This is a platform aimed at bringing young people and duty bearers on the same table.
Through this platform, students have opportunity to meet the duty bearers and present their needs which include challenges they face in their respective schools.
It is a platform that will bridge the gap thay has been there for decades where students in rural and marginalized areas rarely get opportunity to meet their leaders and air their views.
The youth voices for change Summit brings together students from marginalized areas and the duty bearers.
The initiative courtesy of Rongai-based Dandelion Africa organization aims at creating platform for young people more so students to interact with duty bearers on issue based approach.
Here, the students get a chance to highlight the challenges they encounter in schools.
Speaking during the launch held at Mogotio on the border of Nakuru and Baringo Counties, students drawn from various marginalized areas highlighted the need to have frequent such meetings where issues affecting them in schools ranging from water to infrastructure can be highlighted.
Led by Tarus Mitchell, George Kola and Blessings Kibor, the students feel such forums are key in addressing challenges they face in their centresof learning.
“We need such forums frequently so that we can meet our leaders and tell them what we face in schools,” says Kibor.
Wendo Aszed-the founder of Dandelion Africa lobby group on her part notes that over 65 schools are on board with the Young Voices for Change Program in over 4 counties which include Nakuru, Baringo, Narok and Kajiado.
“We realized that alot of children in marginalized areas grow up without letting their leaders until that time they want to venture into politics.We created this platform to change that narrative,” says Wendo.
According to Wendo, advocacy should start from a young age with students lobbying for what they want in their schools.
She adds that the program dubbed ‘Girls for leaders, boys for change’ is key in helping the students understand own rights, identify their school needs then through a joint dialogue with duty bearers air out for action.
“We want to change the narrative for our young people. WE want their voices to be heard,” she says.
At the same time, Wendo has called on stakeholders in various dockets to ensure they create space for young people to be able to articulate their issues.
Under the program, a memorandum of understanding is signed between duty bearers, students and Dandelion Africa that will see a follow up on the implementation of agreed issues.
“The students will lobby through Board of Management in the schools to see to it that whatever they raised has been addressed,” she said.
Sentiments echoed by human rights defender Rebeccah Lomong who argues that retrogressive culture has no room in the current era.
She says time is now for joint societal effort in combating challenges facing young people in marginalized areas.
Already duty bearers from marginalized Rongai and Mogotio areas have embraced the program.
Mogotio MCA Mark Kimiring Sialo says the program is timely adding that young people in marginalized areas face a lot of challenges that will be addressed through such.
“Young people are key to this nation and with such program we believe we are on the right track,” he said.
With a knack for captivating storytelling, Amos Lumbasi has a talent for crafting narratives that resonate with readers. He combines meticulous research with a captivating writing style to create articles that are both informative and enjoyable to read.
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