By Monica Banda

Mchinji, August, 28, Mana: Young people in Mchinji have been urged to take active role in taking care of the environment.

This was said on Saturday when Girls Activists Youth Organisation (GAYO) commemorated International Youth Day in the district under the theme, ‘Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World’.

Environmental District Officer Chrispin Soko said youths these days are lazy to concentrate on future endeavours, let alone to take care of the environment.

“I appreciate what GAYO has done, and I would like to encourage them to be doing this kind of events frequently so that they should be reminding the youth on what to do with the environment because the future belongs to them,” Soko said.

GAYO Executive Director Richard Batch said the aim of commemorating the day was to realize the potential that youth have towards the shift to sustainable environment.

“The issue of climate change in Malawi has affected each and every one, hence we are urging young people to take part in protecting the environment such as planting trees,” Batch said.

According to a representative of the Mchinji Youth Office, Joseph Dalitso Manthalu, such events empower young people about environment, adding this helps them to take care of the environment instead of destroying it.

“As a department, we cannot leave the youths behind, and this is part of Malawi’s Vision 2063 which is about environmental sustainability of which the youth are the movers,” said Manthalu.

The function drew together different youth organisations based in Mchinji, and Ozone Wood Art Theatre spiced up the event with performances.