Young people in the country have been advised to always engage meaningfully with authorities as they amplify their voices on matters of policies and budgets concerning sexual reproductive health rights and services.

Two renowned health rights activists, Maziko Matemba and George Jobe, made these calls on Friday in Mponela, Dowa District, during a day-long training on health budget advocacy and policy communication for young people drawn from various districts across the country.

Youth leaders from various districts across the country recently underwent training in conducting public expenditure tracking surveys. The goal of this training was to enhance youth participation in budget and policy processes related to Sexual Reproductive Health Services and Rights (SRHR) services.

The training was organized by a consortium of three youth-led organizations: the Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD), the Phalombe Youth Arms Organization, and All for Youth. The event took place in the Dowa district.

Young leaders from various parts of the country had their capacities strengthened in meaningful youth participation, Local Government Act, and Access to Information Act through a training organized by Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD) in collaboration with Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation and All for Youth at Thope Lodge in Dowa.

Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD) Executive Director, Andrew Bwanali, has expressed his satisfaction with the pass-on programme for livestock currently being implemented in the area of Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza district.

He made this expression after a successful pass-on event in which primary beneficiaries of livestock passed on 91 chickens to 25 other identified beneficiaries in their communities.