By Dalitso Kampira

Thyolo, October 15, Mana: Youths in Thyolo district have expressed their continuous participation in Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) that empowers communities to take active roles in issues of environmental conservation and other climate smart agricultural activities for sustainable livelihood.

Many young participants in the district mentioned that their involvement has provided opportunities to build their environmental awareness, leading them to embrace agroforestry and other sustainable farming practices.

19-year-old Milca Chikwakwa, from Msuwati catchment, Delule village, Traditional Authority Bvumbwe in an interview on Monday said that she acquired new skills that will forever remain in her.

“We are learning modern farming techniques, such as swales and marker ridges and check dams which regulates flow of water and also improve soil fertility to increase our yields.

“These are techniques that we will always utilize as we are growing up. This will help us to break hunger and poverty cycles in our respective families,” said Chikwakwa.

She added that youth’s participation in CS-EPWP keeps them engaged and they become productive, distracting them from life threatening behaviours.

"We spend better part of the morning working in our hotspots, giving us no room to involve ourselves in unbecoming behaviours,” added Chikwakwa.

Another participant, Gift Njaya said that CE-EPWP capacitates the youth with knowledge on issues of   climate change, which has affected all ages of the population including the youths.

“We are witnessing benefits of environmental conservation right before our eyes. We can see how Climate Smart Enhance Public Works Programme interventions are truly changing our community.

"Techniques such as swales and stone bunds prove to be crucial for sustainable farming,” the young man added.

A youthful foreman at the same catchment. Felix Machete noted that the programme has shifted the mindset of many youths from being spectators of development activities to active participants.

“This programme is a game changer. We are adopting new innovative farming and conservation methods such that the youth are eager for more involvement,” said Machete.

Machete also urged his peers to participate in climate smart activities to prove that youths are responsible citizens.

Thyolo District Youth Officer, Blessings Major emphasized the importance of engaging the youth in climate-smart initiatives and other community level development activities.

“Involving youths in this programme is not just beneficial for today; this is an investment for the future. As future leaders, the youth must understand that their actions today will have long-lasting consequences,” added Major.

Funded by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust, CS-EPWP is being implemented in 18 catchments in Thyolo with over 18,000 participants in various climate smart activities.