Participants who identified social problems in their communities now want to do something about it.
This is after the conclusion of an empowerment workshop coordinated by the Government and a Non-Government Organisation.
The 66 participants, who were mainly youths from the Lami area, presented their action plans to deputy secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Nemani Mati, People’s Community Network executive director, Father Kevin Barr and the Poverty Eradication Unit at the end of the five-day social analysis workshop at the Seventh Day Adventist Church headquarters in Lami.
Mr Mati in closing the empowerment workshop said he was grateful to attend the workshop and witness action plans by participants to address problems they faced in their communities. He said he had a fair idea of the issues raised because he was brought up in similar surroundings.
Fr Barr said PCN would be following up on the action plans to see that the groups effectively implemented them.
He hoped the participants had benefitted from the workshop by changing their mindset, changing their attitude and ultimately be agents of change within their respective settlement.
Fr Barr said poor people were categorised as being powerless and voiceless.
“You are no longer powerless. If we work together we can achieve a lot. We hope the workshop has helped you to find that power and find that voice,” he said.
The youths vowed that they would address problems such as unemployment, school drop-outs, glue sniffing, teenage pregnancies and lack of parental support for continued education by convening a youth meeting next week to seek answers from their elders in their respective communities.
They also noted a need of assistance from Government and NGO’s like PCN to be able to properly Stand Up and Walk.
The workshop was organised by the Prime Minister’s Office Poverty Eradication Unit in partnership with PCN.
-End-