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Children’s Parliament a catalyst for youth engagement

2021-01-27  Paheja Siririka

Children’s Parliament a catalyst for youth engagement

The Children’s Parliament’s chairman of the health committee, Rivaldo Kavanga, (18) said the assembly task is to create a platform for young people to participate in the legislative process as it allows them to appreciate the processes of how laws are made.
Kavanga, this week alongside deputy speaker Josephina Ankonya paid a courtesy visit to the national broadcaster’s Good Morning Namibia show where they advocated and informed the public on the role of the parliament in the country.

The duo said the parliament continues to play a pivotal role in shaping policies that are aimed at improving the wellbeing of young people.
Speaking to Youth Corner, Kavanga said they have engaged with government and relevant stakeholders on a lot of youth-related issues. 
“Currently, the motions of the fifth session were tabled in parliament and are being discussed and incorporated into bills. From the 4th session, government with the recommendation from the Children’s Parliament agreed to increase the child grant by N$100 and also decided to allow learners who failed grade 10 to repeat that grade and also drew up a framework that allowed learners who fall pregnant to return to school post infant delivery,” rounded-up Kavanga.

The young and enthusiastic lawmaker-inspired hinted that young people can always engage the members of the Children’s Parliament as the members are decentralised and are found all over, so engaging these members would help them adequately represent the youth and make policies in their favour. 

 “We make it a role to always be visible, the Children’s Parliament can also be engaged on Facebook and Instagram, plus we have members in each of the 14 regions totalling almost 100 learners forming part of the Children’s Parliament,” he informed and assured.
Kavanga added issues to be addressed include the high rate of teenage pregnancies which is a pertinent issue that needs immediate intervention.

“We are still discussing ways in which to ensure that the teenage mothers are healthy up to the time of delivery, the baby is born healthy and that both are well before the mother makes her return to school.
We are also discussing possible ways to ensure that the infant and mother are well looked after,” recited Kavanga.
Another issue to be addressed immediately is the access to opportunity between the urban and rural child. 

Kavanga said: “Upon our first sitting, we realised that an ample number of opportunities that are available to the urban child is not available to the rural child. Violence against children is also a key issue that needs to be addressed immediately.”
The coordinator of the Children’s Parliament at the National Assembly Theresa Philemon said work of the parliament has been slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic and events like committee meetings, participation in the Commonwealth Parliament and exchange programmes among others, have been affected due to the impact of the virus.
The fifth Children’s Parliament is an initiative of the Namibian parliament in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef). 
- psiririka@nepc.com.na


2021-01-27  Paheja Siririka

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