Plans underway to build youth centre for life skills training

A PROPOSED youth centre will be built in Jiwaka to roll out educational programmes and life skills training for youths in the Highlands.
The Highlands Regional Youth Development Agency (HRYDA) is part of the National Youth Development Centre (NYDC) established under the National Youth Development Authority.
HRYDA programme manager Dandai Klawai said the proposed site for the HRYDA in Highlands was Tsingoropa, Jimi.
“The setting up of this important infrastructure for the youths will enable provision of education and training for youths to live a meaningful and sustainable life,” he said.
“Having our NYDC will enable us to roll out most policies and programmes of the government.
This will then lead us into achieving targeted goals in educating the youth of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, child abuse, negative effects of taking drugs and homebrew, gender based violence and other social problems,” Klawai said. He said the centre would not only benefit Jiwaka youths but other highlands provinces as well.
The proposed infrastructure set-up would have facilities such as sports field to cater for physical and mental development.
The centre will also train students to start and manage agriculture and livestock projects such as poultry, piggery, fishery and others.
Kwalai said the centre aimed to equip youth with practical skills and knowledge in order for them to contribute to the provincial and regional economy.
The HRYDA centre received assistance from partner agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund, which donated a set of computers for the centre.
“We are grateful to UN Child Fund for the computers which will be of great benefit to the students and will enable them to gain confidence on how to use computers,” he said.