By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 19, Mana: National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) has launched a transformative initiative aimed at equipping young Malawians to become peace champions in a proactive move to foster peaceful democratic participation ahead of the September 16, 2025 general elections.

The initiative, which kicked off Friday with a two-day message development workshop in Salima, brought together key stakeholders from government, civil society, and community leadership to strengthen youth participation in peace building.

Speaking at the official opening, NYCOM Director of Finance and Administration, Ernest Mangani, called on stakeholders to view the youth not as tools for political violence, but as architects of peace.

“Our young people must not be reduced to pawns in political conflicts. They are the cornerstone of Malawi’s peaceful development,” said Mangani.

He said the initiative aligns with Malawi 2063 and is a direct contribution to the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and the African Union’s Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security.

The workshop provided a platform to co-create messages that encourage youth to engage constructively in the upcoming elections.

“Our mandate goes beyond youth representation, we are here to mobilize, educate, and empower the youth to be genuine agents of positive change. This is about ensuring they transition from passive participants to active shapers of Malawi’s democratic future,” he said.

NYCOM Programs Officer, Solomon Mlinda, elaborated on the project's objectives, noting that the initiative is not only about preventing violence but also creating a sustainable framework for youth empowerment.

“We are building capacity of young people to be peace ambassadors. Through advocacy, education, and inclusive participation, we aim to redirect their energy from being manipulated to being leaders in their own right,” said Mlinda.

One of the participants Traditional Authority (TA) Maganga commended the initiative and recognized the urgency of the matter, noting the growing concerns of political manipulation among youth in previous election cycles.

She said supporting NYCOM’s peace building agenda will affirm the role of youth as key partners in safeguarding Malawi’s democracy.

“When young people are empowered to resolve disputes and promote unity, they become the strongest pillars of our democracy,” she said.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the Department of National Unity, the Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Police Service, Malawi Peace and Unity Commission, National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), Youth and Society (YAS), and various youth leaders.