Ndhiwa youths celebrate International Youths Day in style

By Gerald Cosmas

International Youth Day - is an initiative that takes place on 12th August every year to celebrate the potential of youths as partners in today's global society.  12th August was designated as International Youth Day (IYD) by the UN General Assembly in 1999. It is meant as an opportunity for governments and others to draw attention to key issues concerning the youth worldwide.

Youths matching in Ndhiwa town to mark and create awareness of the day

According to UNESCO, "IYD is an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, as well as an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges and hardships facing the world's youth."

 During IYD, concerts, workshops, cultural events, and meetings involving national and local government officials and youth organizations take place around the world.

Ndhiwa sub-county being in a rural setup, most youths here would have missed out on such an important day if Action Aid, Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), Ndhiwa Constituency office, County Women Representative office among other stakeholders could not have organized such an exhibition and ideology sharing platform at Ndhiwa Constituency Development Fund (CDF) hall on the eve of this day. The event was officiated by a representative from the office of the Sub-County Commissioner, Ndhiwa.

ALIN official explaining how youths can gain employment through ICT

During this activity, talented youths from all walks of life had the opportunity to showcase their ability under the events special theme ‘advancing employment opportunities for youths in HomaBay County’.

The event attracted over 400 youths with a splendid presence of exhibitors who were earning a living through fashion and beauty, freelance journalism and blogging, music, performing arts, creating arts, tailoring, garbage collection and recycling, government funding opportunities and tendering, CSO and NGOs among the present categories.

Employment being the major challenge in over 70% of youths in Kenya, those in attendance was able to realize that they too could still earn a better living through self-employment.

Action Aid organization played a great role in majoring in the localization of this event here at the grass-root level for the ambitious youths to borrow a leaf on the working ideas from the exhibitors from other regions. The event also turned up to be an opportunity for youths to network and learn how they can start their own enterprises.