TRAINING ON MEANINGFUL AND INCLUSIVE YOUTH PARTICIPATION (MIYP) FOR PTY MALAWI CONSORTIUM

Weston Mfunya, Youth Wave

In April 2024, the PtY Malawi consortium took a significant step towards bridging the gap in understanding Meaningful and Inclusive Youth Participation (MIYP). With training facilitated by CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality and Sonke Gender Justice, consortium members from PtY Malawi including myself, participated in this transformative experience.

One of the most engaging topics covered was youth leadership, particularly its connection with youth-adult partnerships. This component is critical to achieving MIYP. Additionally, the training provided clarity on several important aspects of MIYP, such as tokenism, power imbalances, and the "Flower of Participation" model. These topics were facilitated through practical exercises, enabling us to identify issues, challenges, and solutions based on our own experiences.

The training not only strengthened individual capacities but also enhanced the overall effectiveness of the organizations within the consortium. This empowerment is crucial for the Power to You(th) program, as it addresses gaps identified in the Mid-Term Evaluation report which highlighted that there inconsistent understanding of key concept of MIYP. The newly acquired knowledge enabled participants to have a common understanding of MIYP which will result in collective and shared efforts in regards to empowering young people in their institutions and in the community. This, in turn, will help young people challenge existing gender inequalities and demand accountability on key issues that affect them, such as unintended pregnancies, sexual and gender-based violence, and harmful cultural practices.

One participant, Stanford Chidule from Youth Men Engage, shared his enthusiasm: "The knowledge and skills I have gained through this training will be crucial for championing MIYP through boys' involvement in leading the desired change for my community." His sentiments reflect the transformative impact of the training on individuals and how it will benefit their communities.

Yewo Gondwe, the coordinator from the Malawi SRHR Alliance, who leads advocacy within the consortium, emphasized the training's significance: "This training has helped to address the existing gaps identified in the mid-term evaluation and will improve our programming by empowering young people to champion meaningful and inclusive youth participation in targeted communities."

As a youth leader from a youth-led organization within the consortium, I am committed to ensuring the implementation of the training's insights and seeing them trickle down to our respective organizations and youth in the communities where the PtY Program is being implemented. This training marks a significant milestone in the journey towards achieving meaningful and inclusive youth participation.