Center for Governance and Leadership – CEGOL and Bwalo Likule Network – BLN have launched the Generation20 Academy in Blantyre. Speaking during the launch, Mayor of Blantyre City; Wild Ndipo stressed the need for investment in youth leadership if the country is to achieve the Malawi 2063 vision. Said Ndipo; “the youth bulge that Malawi and Africa in general is experiencing, is a great opportunity for investment in attaining local, regional and global goals. The need for deliberate efforts in building the capacity of young people to participate in development can therefore not be overemphasized”.
The Mayor then commended CEGOL and BLN for rolling out the Generation 20 Academy Project which he described as a game changer in providing much needed skill sets to the youth. He added that the project complements the National Youth Service that the government of Malawi launched recently.
Taking her turn, Sandra Machinjili who spoke on behalf of CEGOL board members reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to contribute towards youth empowerment programming in the country. “CEGOL remains resolute to work together with various stakeholders in complement government’s efforts of developing the youth in Malawi. Generation 20 Academy is one such intervention that we have committed to pursue together with our partners in shaping the lives of the youth in Malawi” narrated Machinjili. She then challenged stakeholders to come on board and and support the initiative as CEGOL and BLN are implementing the project without any funding from donors. She described the move as highest level of patriotism and service to the country.
Speaking during the same function, Andrew Kaponya who is the Executive Director for Bwalo Likule Network said the academy was pertinent as it addresses leadership deficits being observed in the majority of the youth. “What we shall be imparting unto these youth are the skills they may not learn in Class. We are preparing for leadership, volunteerism, advocacy and community service”, said Kaponya.
The Generation 20 Academy is a flagship youth transformation program that will build the capacity of the youth and impart skills in personal development planning and branding, business development/entrepreneurship, policy formulation and analysis, leadership and community service and financial management among others.
The project partners have identified local and international experts that will virtually drill the youth beneficiaries on voluntary basis. The experts have been drawn from University of Malawi, local private sector and from global institutions.
The virtual school will directly impact 50 youth from across Malawi and concurrently, the phase will reach out and engage a 3,000 young people in selected 20 secondary schools and 10 colleges in Blantyre urban through the young debaters contests as an extension to begin to familiarize young people in issues that affect their lives, communities and the nation. The academy will run for 12 months.
