Invest in youth for sustainable development
“You form a critical mass of leadership and constitute a vital resource for national development” – This was the message from Sheila Masinde to the three hundred youths from seven countries meeting at Kenya High school in Nairobi for a workshop dubbed ‘empowerment for positive growth’.
She went further to say, that youth involvement in advocacy and good governance need to start early if the principles were to become a “way of life”. Sheila cautioned of national threat to stability if the youth are left unguided in ethical values.
Ms. Sheila Masinde who works at Transparency International as a programme officer, advocacy and communications noted that “public recognition of young people is key in social development, fact strengthened by United Nations’ convention on Rights of the Child”. While challenging the policy makers to involve the youth, she reiterated that “development policies and governance stand a chance of influencing success when young people are involved”.
Adding to the debate of linking youth participation and involvement in realization of Millennium development goals (MDG’s) she urged all- “invest on youth for most effective dividend in meeting MDG’s and building long-term social capacity for development”
The week long workshop organized by Church World Service, Norwegian Church Aid and the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church brought together youths from Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya.
