DENEYE ENGAGES A YOUTH NETWORK ON VARIOUS ISSUES AFFECTING THE YOUTH

By Aubrey Alphonse Ligomeka

02 August 2022

As a growing seed, the Development Network for Youth Empowerment (DENEYE) had an engaged meeting with Mtumbwinda Youth Network at Chipolonga Health Center in Machinga district, in the Eastern region of Malawi. Topics included a number of issues such as teenage pregnancies, harmful sexual practices and also sexual and gender based violence among youth.

In so doing DENEYE encouraged adolescent girls and young women to access family planning methods for them to continue with their education. One of the youth leaders from Mtumbwinda Youth Network, Chifuniro Mphoola, thanked DENEYE Organisation for organising the meeting. The meeting helped the youth from different communities to share ideas on the topics that were discussed but also it will empower young people in their respective communities to take a leading role to ensure that young people are not involved in such malpractices that can affect their future.

Executive Director for DENEYE,Mr Shalid Ishmael thanked the youth for attending the meeting in large numbers and according to him it really showed how really committed the youth are in addressing issues that are affecting their daily lives. He also stressed on the point, for the two Organisations, to work together, in order to reach out to more youths to join the movement. He is calling on the youth to help find solutions that will end the tendency of forcing girls to early marriages.

Speaking on his part DENEYE Gender Coordinator, Madalitso Namasasu advised the youth, especially girls who managed to attend the meeting, that early marriages can affect their health as once they get pregnant, at a tender age, they may suffer from fistula. Fistula is one of the diseases affecting a large proportion of young women these days. Young women need to report any sexual abuse activities that they may face to DENEYE Office or relevant authorities in the district for immediate action against the perpetrators.

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