Youths to benefit from ICT skills initiative

A GOVERNANCE organisation has embarked on a programme to equip youths in rural areas with Information Communication Technology skills aimed at bringing them closer to the governance system.

Action for Governance Forum executive director Justin Mushoke told the Daily Nation that the project ensured they had access to technology, to disseminate information to other youths especially in rural areas.

Mr Mushoke said over 40 youths had been equipped with Information Communication Technology skills as a medium to connect other youths in rural areas.

He said youths should take keen interest in the issues of governance, and desist from being used as tools of violence.

Mr Mushoke said his organisation was focusing on the youth empowerment programmes because of their vulnerability in society.

He said once the majority of youths were equipped with skills, they would be able to live a decent life rather than being used by greedy politicians.

He said ICT was playing a vital role in its socio-economic development, saying the vision of the organisation was to ensure the majority of youths have access to information.

Mr Mushoke said the programme was being spearheaded in all the 10 provinces, with some centres to be opened in the districts.

“We are keen to see knowledgeable youths in Zambia and who are able to articulate issues of national interest for the benefit of the nation.

Our objective is to increase coverage and access in the provision of Information to contribute to sustainable national development, owing to the fact that the country had a huge number of youths who were not in employment,” he said.

He said the organisation was targeting youths in youths, mostly in rural areas, and could also contribute to the development of the country.

Mr Mushoke said the issue of violence should be thing of the past, saying youths should equip themselves and be ready to take charge as future leaders.

“The Forum hopes that with the establishment of the centres in some districts, it will help young people access information on issues happening both locally and internationally, and close the gap in information dissemination between young people in rural and urban areas,” he said.

Mr Mushoke said his organisation has partnered with other stakeholders so that more centres could be established for the benefit of young people in areas where they cannot access information regarding democracy and governance.