ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 320 - 15/03/1997

Malawi

Empowering the marginalised

by Patrick Mawaya, Malawi, January 1997

THEME = YOUTH

INTRODUCTION

The gross abuse of youth and children and lack of youth development programmes in Malawi, has led to the founding of an organisation, which aims to put things right

The Centre for Youth and Childrens' Affairs (CEYCA) was launched in response to a situation "whereby the youth and children, particularly, out-of-school youth, are all too often in marginalised positions. They are jobless and victims of abuse", says CEYCA's Executive Director, Rodgers Newa. He continues: "The organisation was founded in August 1995. It started functioning in January 1996 and achieved registration in August 1996. It came into being at a time when the government of Malawi had no National Youth Policy, and when the youth were left aside. Also, at a time when there was a lack of protection for children, and no efforts were being made to promote their rights". In the past, efforts were made to do something for the youth, by training them to be self-reliant through skills-training. Young people followed a 10-month leadership course with the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) (now defunct). Afterwards, they could go on to agricultural schemes.

National Youth Policy document

Newa says that although the launching of the National Youth Policy, is a step forward in responding to the needs and desires of the youth, the policy document does nothing towards formulating a platform for action. "It appears that the government has done nothing towards establishing youth programmes. Perhaps government's priorities lie elsewhere. Be that as it may, it is clear that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, is poorly funded. Yet, the youth comprise half of Malawi's population (about 11 million)".

CEYCA

The youth and children are continually described as "our hope for the future", but they also continue to be victims of unemployment and abuse. So, CEYCA is directing its attention to the youth and children in Malawi. CEYCA aims to promote the development of Malawi's youth by offering technical and agro-based training. In addition, it also aims to promote and protect the rights of the child.

Activities

The organisation helps in the following areas: the administration of juvenile justice; the adoption of children; investigating the economic and sexual exploitation of children resulting from child labour. The organisation is a member of the Lilongwe District AIDS Coordinating Committee, a Member of the Human Rights Consultative Council, a member of the National Task Force on the Activities of the Day of the African Child. Since January this year, it has also been running a youth -orientated programme concerning AIDS. Newa says that: "We try to come up with activities which bring awareness concerning childrens' rights, nationwide." As a member of the Human Rights Consultative Council (HRCC), the organisation is involved in parliamentary lobbying on Bills for the betterment of Malawi. Although still young, the organisation's impact has been felt far and wide. Currently, the organisation is working on the repatriation of two Malawian children, who were illegally adopted by a white man when they were 11 and 13 years of age respectively. Issac and Robert Banda are now 15 and 17 years old, and both come from Nkhatabay District. They are in The Gambia where they are being used in a restaurant. An NGO in The Gambia contacted CEYCA about their situation. CEYCA is run with two voluntary workers, Rev. Jeff Brown Soko and Rodgers Newa; plus one part-time accountant and one messenger. It is determined to fight child abuse which takes the form of: child domestic labour; child labour on estates; prostitution of girls; maltreatment suffered by children in the family. The organisation notes that agricultural estates in Malawi employ both parents and children, and that child beating is quite common in Malawian families. "We hope that families will find alternatives to disciplining the child, rather than beating", urges Newa. "And since the government has no National Plan of Action, we feel we are an alternative, as we are in direct contact with the grassroots". CEYCA is calling on the government to put in place a National Plan of Action so that the Youth Policy can be fulfilled.

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PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement