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#BeFree creates youth-friendly spaces

#BeFree creates youth-friendly spaces

The #BeFree movement recently conducted a transformative training session for Regional Youth Officers at Penduka Village in Windhoek. 

This initiative is designed to equip youth officers from all 14 regions with the skills to create youth-friendly spaces, enhancing access to reproductive health services and development programmes for young people.

In addition, it seeks to create youth-friendly spaces, where young individuals feel safe, heard and free to express themselves.  Facilitator Lelly Amunyela said to effectively create these spaces, first identify the barriers that hinder youth from accessing crucial services.

The #BeFree movement is a youth-led initiative that allows Namibian adolescents and young adults to openly discuss their challenges and seek solutions. 

The programme, a part of the One Economy Foundation, empowers young people to foster a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where they can flourish.

The training covered essential topics for youth development, such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, mental health, programme design, inclusivity for youth with disabilities, digital literacy, and effective communication strategies. 

Participants engaged in interactive sessions, scenario-based learning and action planning to equip them with practical tools for implementation within their communities. During the event, acting chief youth officer Hilya Imene highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to address youth issues.  “Youth officers require regular opportunities to engage with stakeholders. This approach fosters synergies. We should avoid isolated interactions, as social issues are interconnected. In a dynamic landscape, it is crucial for us as youth officers to gain fresh insights from like-minded stakeholders to support innovative approaches to youth work,” she stated.

Senior youth officer Elvisia Tjituka-Karuuombe, a participant, noted that the training offered valuable insights into enhancing referral pathways and understanding the significance of needs’ assessments in youth programme development.  She found learning through real-life scenarios, especially regarding mental health, valuable.

 Tjituka-Karuuombe recognised the importance of digital engagement as crucial for reaching young people. 

Her visit to the #BeFree Youth Campus in Katutura was particularly impactful. 

It served as a powerful illustration of what a safe and inclusive youth space should embody. She remarked that the training fostered collaboration, and helped avoid duplication of efforts across regions. 

“This training inspired us as youth officers to work together with other stakeholders, and collaborate more closely with the One Economy Foundation to develop sustainable, youth-centred initiatives,” she commented. The training ended with a renewed commitment from all participants to implement what they had learned in practical ways within their communities. 

With enhanced resources, knowledge and strategic partnerships, Namibia’s youth officers are better-prepared to create safe, inclusive and empowering environments nationwide for young people.

-psiririka@nepc.com.na