Officers from the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA) were recent in the Wewak District of East Sepik province on the request of its local Member of Parliament (MP) to carry out consultations on the preparations for the establishment of a District Youth Development Council (DYDC).
The proposed Wewak District Youth Development Council will serve as a means to give the youth population in the district a voice to raise their concerns on issues affecting them, and also serve as an avenue for them to meaningfully contribute to the developments in their district.
The consultation, which took place on Monday 25th March, was focused on developing a mobilization plan including logistics arrangements for establishing the Wewak District Youth Development Council.
The NYDA team whilst there, met with the Wewak District Administrator, Mr. Gideon Kaivi along with his administration staff, and the Integrated Community Development Manageress, Miss Alice Embe, from the East Sepik Provincial Administration and the team from the EU – STREIT PNG Programme.
In his opening remarks at the consultation, Mr. Kaivi emphasized on the need for youth engagements in sustainable programs and activities to keep them occupied and highlighted the need for partnership between development partners and stakeholders within the youth space, so to work collaboratively with the district to support the youth population.
Representatives from the EU–STREIT PNG Programme also highlighted the need for working together with the youths in the East Sepik province and have expressed excitement and look forward to more collaboration with the NYDA and all other districts in the province to establish their own DYDCs.
Meanwhile, it was agreed upon during the consultation that the NYDA team will travel back to Wewak district in three (3) weeks’ time to formally establish the DYDC.
Whilst the NYDA team prepares to establish the Wewak DYDC, the team from the EU – STREIT PNG Programme has already set up a working committee comprising of youths in the district, to work with the District Administration and the NYDA to mobilize the youths in collaboration with the respective Local Level Government Managers in the district, to prepare for the establishment of the youth council.
Establishing a youth voice mechanism in the district is very important to create an avenue for youths to participate in the development of a district, cultivate good behaviors of youths and address pressing issues.
MP Stanley Muts Samban along with his District Administration recognized the significance of this, hence the invitation to the NYDA to partner with Wewak District to establish the DYDC.