CEC Member for Education ICT and Human resource development Mr. John Awiti giving closing remarks at the end of the two days Kisumu County Youth sector consultative meeting
By Matilda Atieno
The county directorate of youth affairs this week spearheaded a two days consultative meeting in close collaboration with the state department of youth affairs and other partners to deliberate on youth empowerment issues in a forum held at Acacia hotel.
The two days consultative meeting geared towards identifying, prioritizing and further organize the ways to support the implementation of the youth programs through the formation of the Kisumu County Youth Sector Working Group (KCYSWG).
The meeting which brought together stakeholders in Youth, health, social protection and gender sectors was structured around the formation of KCYSWG, mapping of partners, implementation strategies, action planning and sharing of the TOR.
According to Mr. Joshua Kaluoch the in charge of the state department of youths Kisumu County, the meeting is expected to revive and actualize the county youth action plan and the formation synergy to avoid duplication of roles by the actors.
The county officer in charge of youth affairs Mr. George Orude called on the stakeholders to secure synergies and connections with the youths and contribute to the implementation of the strategic actions.
The meeting was graced by the regional coordinator youth affairs, Mr. Augustine Mayabi who recognized the various stakeholders for taking time to deliberate on the important role of the youth in Kisumu. Mr. Mayabi recalled the aspirations of the KCYSWG in Harnessing Investments in the Youth by laying the foundation for mainstreaming youth participation in the programs enlisted by the stakeholders. Recalling the previous decisions and pronouncements on youth programs geared towards creating solutions to the challenges experienced by youths which include, unemployment and education systems, Mr. Mayabi challenged the team to come up with solutions to handle the current challenges in order to improve on the future of the youth.
In his closing remarks, The CEC member for Education, ICT and Human resource development, Mr. John Awiti, congratulated the sector for such initiative and echoed the pillars identified. The CEC expressed the need for mainstreaming of youth issues into the development agenda adding that the County government has designed good programs for Youth through VTCs, IT and Capacity building strategies for youth. Mr. Awiti urged parents and churches to take greater roles in nurturing youth development, promising to support the initiative and calls upon more stakeholders to come on board.
The coming together as youth sector is key to understanding and collating youth activities in a well-coordinated approach. The KCYSWG is set to accelerate progress towards integrated and effective youth programs in the county.
