Youth urged to be pioneers of change, climate resilience
BULAWAYO youths have been urged to be pioneers of change in reducing carbon footprint, develop sustainable businesses and advocating for policies that respond to their needs and those of the city.
Speaking at the Urban Futures advanced certificate in green technologies youth champions graduation ceremony on Friday, Lupane State University economics lecturer who also served as the guest of honour, Mr Nkululeko Mpofu, said the youth should be conscious about how they are contributing to the food system.
The Urban Futures program is fully supported by HIVOS and delivered by a Bulawayo based consortium of partners, namely the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) as lead in partnership with GreenHut Trust, Africa Food Revolution and the Unemployed and Vulnerable Foundation Trust (UVFT).
The initiative was launched in October 2023 to promote youth participation in the food sector and foster economic growth through sustainable food that is accessible, affordable and appealing to all.
Mr Mpofu said the future is in the hands of the youth; hence, there is a need for them to build a climate-change-resilient, smart and inclusive food-secure Bulawayo. “I would like to celebrate the milestone of the urban futures project, especially the youth who have managed to gain important skills on the City of Bulawayo food systems,” said Mpofu.
In view of climate change, he said globally, this has become a contentious issue that has ignited urgent need for urban and peri-urban environments to transition from business as usual. “The youth are the chosen generation to kick-start that transition in the City of Bulawayo,” said Mr Mpofu.
In doing so, he noted that ICTs play a crucial role in agriculture, as the Internet is becoming increasingly affordable, especially with the introduction of Starlink.
Mr Mpofu urged the youth to embrace technology and incorporate it into their production systems.
The Advanced Certificate in Green Technologies course was a six-week experiential learning-based programme, which delivered theory and practical sessions through the Lupane State University’s Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Centre for Continued Education (CCE), with support from HIVOS. The event saw 52 youths graduate, with 28 being female and 24 being male.
Notably, the course also embraced inclusivity by ensuring that key populations were represented, including two graduates who are sign language users.
“The certificate course is inclusive of key and vulnerable populations during its delivery, which is done through inclusion of people with disabilities as students, through engagement of sign language interpreters who aid by giving active interpretation of the lessons in real time, as well as ensuring venues for the lessons are easily accessible to those using wheelchairs or with any other disability,” said BVTA.
The certificate course significantly contributes to the Urban Futures’ aims of poverty alleviation by increasing production that is affordable, in demand, and helpful in reducing food insecurity.
It continuously adds value to the existing platforms and strategies for engagement between key actors in the food processing sector and the city’s residents. Representatives from the Ministry of Local Government, Public works and National Housing, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, among others attended the programme.
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