Community Youth Concern (CYC)
Zambia has a very young population, but youths are not often in a position to influence the decisions taken on their behalf. Community Youth Concern builds the skills and confidence of young people to enable them to effect positive changes in their community. By training youths in decision-making, human rights and advocacy, young people are empowered to take charge of their lives.
Address: P.O. Box 57001, Nyimba
Telephone: +260 0979 865478
Fax:
Email: chapondabenson@yahoo.com
www:
Contact person: Benson Chaponda
Theme: Building Local Democracy
68 % of the Zambian population is under 25 years of age. However, young people are not often asked for their opinions on how best to improve their living conditions, as authority traditionally rests with the older generations. Young people are afflicted by poverty in many ways: poor information flow about education and income opportunities, limited or inadequate access to education and skills training, no availability of youth friendly credit schemes and very little influence on national and local decision making and development.
Community Youth Concern (CYC) aims to improve the opportunities for young people by empowering them to take charge of their own lives. This is done by providing training in leadership skills, such as negotiation, advocacy, communication and conflict resolution, and on subjects such as human rights and HIV/AIDS. CYC also trains youths in entrepreneurship and runs a program where young people receive mentoring when establishing income generating activities. The aim is to educate young people to become responsible citizens by encouraging them to assume leadership roles within their local communities and to participate in local governance structures to make their voices heard.