Andiamo protagonist in Youth development promotion

From 26th to 28th November Andiamo was invited to attend the 2009 Annual General Assembly held at the Cresta Cross Roads Hotel in the Capital City of Malawi, Lilongwe.

The theme of this year’s Assembly was “TIME TO ACT”. This theme was a call for young people to start acting now for the betterment of Malawi and the generations to come. Since the Malawian population has 70% of it comprising young people, the theme as per the present delegates called young people to be strong enough to carry the deliberation such that government should come to believe that young people can deliver to the fullest.

Speaking at the opening of the General Assemble the Guest of Honour the Vice President of Malawi, while being echoed by the Minister of Youth, sports and Culture, Honourable Lucius Kanyumba, she said she has seen what she wasn’t expecting to happen at the meeting. “I thought I will come here to find you disorganized as this is one character in young people but alas! It’s completely the opposite” said the Vice President. She came in with an expression “Negativity is contagious because when it comes, things don’t work according to plan”. With this she encouraged young to refrain and get ready to face this negativity influence to their achievement by drawing a Mission statement which will enable them have the heart to accomplish it hence accomplishing their heart desires thereby killing the negativity.

In his turn, Hon Kanyumba encouraged the delegates to work extra herder to reach their dreams giving himself as an example of someone who has gone up to where he is from an organization.

The meeting saw deliberations of various reports from the National Youth Council, NAC and other donor communities to sum the year.

One other activity was the Launch of the END OF EARLY MARRIAGE CAMPAIGN witnessed by Hon Alekeni Menyani, MP. He took words from the young people present that the bill about under aged marriage be taken back to Parliament as the youth themselves have said NO!. Testimonies were given on some girl who happened to have a child at the age of 16. She explained the agony she went through and don’t want the future of girls be left in limbo like hers. This made most young people cry as she narrated her ordeal.

Andiamo was represented by Ellen Nthenda – the sections coordinator, Thom Kapasule- the deputy director and Hendren Nlashi from Comfort Vision.