More than a quarter of Malawi population is aged between 10 and 19 while 50% of the country’s total populace is claimed by the youth. This is the group that will also shoulder the impact of all the actions and decisions that are done today on issues pertaining to climate change.
It is against this background that YONECO, in collaboration with Churches Action in Relief and Development (CARD), Centre for Integrated Community Development (CICODE) conducted a training on water and Soil conservation which targeted young people from various community youth groups and school clubs.
Due to high unemployment rate, many young people resort to income generating activities that deplete the environment and lead to the destruction of various natural resources and wildlife in protected game reserves and national parks. Such practices include charcoal burning and selling.
The training session focused on protection of wild animals and forest tree species, natural regeneration and management of tree nurseries.
During the sessions, officials from District Forest Offices and wildlife Parks from all the three districts also presented the challenges which they face in taking care of water, soil, trees and wildlife animals. The stakeholders also reminded the young people about their roles in natural resource and environmental conservation
The training was attended by 45 young people (22 Females and 23 Males) from Nsanje, Chikwawa and Kasungu districts.
The training was conducted under ‘Building Climate Resilient Communities through Conservation Effective Management of Natural Resources and Diversified Livelihoods Particularly for Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities Surrounding National Parks and Game Reserves Project’ which is being funded by and the European Commission (EU). At national level, the project it is being coordinated by Trocaire with the aim of improving the capacity of organization in managing climate change related initiatives.
