The National Council for Civic Education and Development has held a Youth and Duty bearers dialogue session, as part of a Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding youth training in Kholifa Rowula and Yoni Mamaila Chiefdoms in Tonkolili district, North East Region of Sierra Leone. This is part of the implementation of a “Youth at Risk Project” funded by UNDP. Duty bearers present at the dialogue sessions represented agriculture, health, education, security, local councils, traditional authority and the district youth council sectors.
Key issues discussed with concrete commitments and action points were; access to land and machinery for agriculture, stigmatization and discrimination of youth in health delivery services, limited opportunities for technical and vocational training, police brutality and abuse of the civil liberties of youth, integration and involvement of youth in other youth related activities and delays in land agreements between youth and land owning communities and families.
Youth group representatives expressed appreciation over the dialogue interface with key duty bearers in their communities which they described as “very fruitful and needed.” They believe that this is a great initiative that could get their direct input and contributions on national and other youth issues.
Also, a part of the engagement, saw youth Ambassadors given an opportunity to tell their change stories through Community radio engagements.
