This
site is designed for Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator versions
4 and above and a screen resolution of at least 800x600
|
|
|
Youth empowerment for environmental conservation
By
Phillip Banda - 05-06-2002 |
|
|
It is 4.30 AM and a handful of boys and girls accompanied by their mothers are trodding the narrow path that connects Mbayani to Chilomoni going through Mbwerera.
Monday through Sunday, this team passes through this path in the morning with ropes up the mountain and later in the day down the mountain with long bundles of firewood from the Michiru Mountains. They sell this firewood at Chemusa and Mbayani markets.
Long time ago, it is said, women were the ones involved in fetching firewood. Today, things have taken a twist—young girls and boys have ventured into this otherwise raw deal of deforesting our hills and mountains—for wood which they sell for a living.
“Those days parents were leading on the duty of fending for the family while the youth were just on the receiving end. Today, the youth are the ones in the forefront, trying to organise things in the home for the betterment of the whole household,” noted Michiru Forest guard Simeon Salaniponi.
Salaniponi says everyday he is on duty, he feels sorry for the youth who go up the mountain barefoot and later struggle down the slopes with heavy loads of firewood.
Forster Kumbuka, 15, who lives at Mbayani and, with his mother sells firewood at the market, is one of the youths involved in this trade, which is contributing a great deal to deforestation. He says, his family is driven into that trade by poverty.
“We do this for a living and nothing else. When we have some wood to sell, then we are assured of something to eat that day. We also use the money to buy clothes,” he said.
While the battle against environmental degradation is still on, it is a sore to many environmentalists to see youngsters like Forseter in the forefront—depleting the country’s natural resources.
“Malawi is a beautiful country. If you were around 15 years ago, you will agree with me that all the mountains wore beautiful green coats—a very pleasant scenery. Today, the green coats on our mountains have turned grey and the soils are naked—not only affecting agriculture, but fauna as well.
“There is need to empower the youth on environmental issues. Just as there are NGOs working with the youth on HIV/Aids-related issues, environmental issues must take centre stage among the youth,” says one officer from Thyolo Forestry Reserve.
But, according to Lingalireni Mihowa—who is the gender programme officer for Cordination Unit for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (CURE)—there are some youth NGOs that have shown interest in environmental issues.
“From CURE’s point of view, the youth are a better tool for addressing issues to do with the environment. For example, we are working hand in hand with Matindi youth group Nthunzi wa Malawi and others in addressing environmental issues,” said Mihowa.
She said CURE realises that the youth have the energy to mobilise local communities and sensitise them on how best to take care of the environment.
“These youths do a lot of campaigns and training of the local communities. Because they are creative—they use drama to disseminate information on the dangers of deforestation and the need for afforestation,” she said.
Mihowa sees the need for urban youth in particular, to be involved as most of them are school drop outs.
“If used in areas like this one [environment], they get skills which they permanently use in developmental issues. In this way, their leadership skills are also enhanced,” she added.
According to her, programmes work better when young people are directly involved in their design and implementation.
“Through good quality and relevant education and training, the youth can get a sense of rights and responsibility in their own life, towards others and in taking part in addressing issues of concern more particularly those involving their surroundings,” reads a UNFPA publication called Population Briefing Kit of 2000.
|
|
|
|
|
|
