TIGblogs - THOMAS DAVID MAQWAY

The General Assembly of United Nations (UN) on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120 endorsed the recommendation made by the Council of Ministers’ conference (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.

The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81). The Programme identified ten priorities for member states of UN to deal with on improving well being and livelihood of young people. These are; education, employment, hunger and poverty, health, environment, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure, improving the situation of girls and young women, and the full and effective participation of youth in the life of society and in decision making process.

International Youth Day, therefore, is the day of promoting better awareness of World Programme of Action for Youth and assessing how far the ten priorities of the Programme have been implemented in our land thereby drawing lessons learnt to improve its progress. The very latest report assessing the situation of youth is the 2007 World Development Report: Development and the Next Generation disseminated by the World Bank.

The report presents an overview of the global situation of young people, citing the impact of globalization on young women and men; the use and access to ICTs; the impact of HIV/AIDS on young people; the active involvement of young people in armed conflict, both as victims and as perpetrators; and the increased importance of addressing intergenerational issues in an ageing society. Again it insists on investing in the next generation. This report, however, is yet to be known by many Tanzanian young people.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Development Forum for Youth (TDFY) in Collaboration with Tanzania Youth Vision Association (TYVA) and Tanzania Development Information Center (TDIC) convened a roundtable discussion towards commemoration of International Youth Day with a theme “Be heard, Be seen, Youth participation in Development” by revisiting the youth situation in Tanzania.

The discussion was aimed at giving an avenue for the young people to access the country’s implementation of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and beyond, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).

The Issues discussed among others include; The 2007 World Development Report (WDR) Development and Next Generation, Review: Youth Situation in Tanzania (National Youth Policy, National Youth Council) and lastly UTUME WA VIJANA-Youth Participation in Decision Making Bodies.

The session begun by giving the participants an opportunity to watch the half an hour film on 2007 World Development Report that gave an overview of the global situation of the young people.

In his introductory note, the TDFY National Chairperson, Mr. Thomas D. Maqway brought to participants attention the effort of the World Bank, especially for re-inventing itself by considering young people as the important stakeholders in poverty alleviation and therefore spearheading the preparation and dissemination of the 2007 World Development Report WDR with a theme “Development and the Next Generation” that focused itself on the investing in young people.

He further emphasized on 2007 WDR as an important tool that young people can and could use it at all levels to redefine their strategies in poverty alleviation and to effect decision at higher level of influence.

The TYVA Vice-Chairperson Mr. Deus Valentine gave the short presentation on the overview of the International Youth Day (IYD). In that regard he highlighted why, when and the how of the International Youth Day IYD since the ministers’ conference responsible for young people held in (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) where 12 August each year was declared International Youth Day to date.

The second presentation on the Review: Youth Situation in Tanzania (National Youth Policy, National Youth Council) was given by Mr. Daniel Welwel: the former TYVA National Chairperson
In presentation Daniel made a brief account of the history of the young people’s struggle in Tanzania after independence.

It began with the youth being under the umbrella of the youth wing of the only political party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Thereafter, soon after 1992 the country went back to political pluralism and CCM young wing could no longer claim to be the body of all young people irrespective of their political alignment.

Political pluralism necessitated a need to have national youth council. Understanding this need, the Government adopted the first National Youth Policy in 1996. That policy however did not last long, four years later we started the process of reviewing it. For more than seven years, the review has been on and off. It is only this year that the new policy has come out. Even so, we still have not seen it.

The process of forming national youth council has also faced the similar slow speed and lack of commitment on the part of Government. Despite continued pressures and advocacy from the youth organizations, the council is yet to be formed. This year, for the first time, the Government has set aside fund in the Ministry’s budget to finance the process of National Youth Council. It is hoped that this commitment coupled with the signing of the African Youth Charter will accelerate the process of forming National Youth Council.

Daniel finished his paper by urging youth organizations to keep the struggle on and pressure for the National Youth Policy and the Council to come together. This way, he submitted, the efforts of youth will be coordinated and hence youth development enhanced.

That was followed by questions asked to the presenter to which he replied. The summary of questions and answers is provided below:
QN
-What criteria, procedures used for the participation of the young people in the review of the NYP and formation of the NYC?

ANS
The criteria are somewhat unclear, because there was no logical or clear geographical representation of the young people. The only advantage organizations like TYVA had, in the process, was their continued persistence and pro-activeness to participate. Irrespective of criteria

I will think it crucial for youth organizations to continue looking for information, demand for participation and take charge of the issues of concern to them. Otherwise we may blame but that will not help solving our problems.

QN
What steps were taken to make young people understand the whole concept of the NYP and NYC? Which organizations were involved?

ANS
This is an ongoing process; no specific organization can claim ownership of the process. But I understand some youth organizations like the defunct NYF, TYVA and YUNA were in the forefront in the campaign for NYP and NYC. Many other have now picked the idea and I think every youth organization should be involved. This way we can be sure of reaching far and taking as many young people on board as possible.

QN
Draft for the NYP is ready!!! How was it that? And who was involved?

ANS
As I said before, the participation has never been consistent and inclusive. It is perhaps the most disjointed type of participation. All the same, the issue now is to see the final version of the policy and examine the extent with it addresses youth problems.

QN
Before the introduction of multiparty system in Tanzania, during TANU error and later CCM, young people were under UVCCM. Why then government fear to put in places NYC?

ANS
I understand that young people form the potential voting population. They constitute the majority in terms of working force. This is a strong group for its number and potentials. There are therefore worries of letting them be organized. Especially because they are unhappy with the way political system takes care of their problem. But, my take in the issue would be, let them get organized because this will even help the government in searching for the solutions to their problems.

The third presentation on the review: UTUME WA VIJANA-Youth Participation in Decision Making Bodies was given by Alex Mayunga, the former Treasurer of TYVA
Alex discussed the concept of youth participation in which he said. Youth are claimed to be involved but the involvement is more of manipulation. For youth to be effectively involved they should

1. Be involve them in responsible and challenging tasks
2. Their actions should meet genuine needs to develop societies
3. They should get involved in planning, reviews and implementations
4. They should be able to influence decisions

Most of the times young people are involved as decoration or rubber stamps
Challenges facing youth participation

1. Majority of Young people are not well informed on issues of their concern. Their arguments, seldom, hold water.

2. Stereotyped mindset of other age groups that young people can never do anything that can bring serious impact on their community.

3. Some young people’s organizations do not have specific cause that they serve. They are as good as entrepreneurs searching for whatever opportunity.

4. Government lacks confidence on young initiatives

5. Young people are suffering from "political phobia". They do not support young people who are in politics

6. Absence of National Youth Council denies young people a chance to have a common bond in addressing their issues.

Closing Ceremony:
At the end the discussion was summed up and participants were thanked for their participation. The facilitator closed the session. The organizers thanked the support they received from the TDIC and the WB.