By Agatha Kadzinje

Blantyre, November 23, Mana: Ndirande Zone Youth Network (NDIZOYNET) has organized a clean-up exercise at Malabada and Ndirande health centres scheduled for November 29, 2024.

The initiative will be done under the theme: Empowering Youth, Cleaning Health Centres, and Brightening Futures through Quality Care.

NDIZOYNET Chairperson, Amos Brownd, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Friday, that the exercise aims at promoting youth’s involvement in issues of hygiene in Ndirande’s public places.

Brownd encouraged youth to take active roles in maintaining cleanliness in their respective communities.

“NDIZOYNET cleaned Ndirande Main Market two months ago and it is now our mission to clean public spaces across Ndirande,” he said.

He, therefore, encouraged youths that are not yet affiliated to the network to join the exercise to promote hygiene at the two health centres.

“This initiative will not only include cleaning but also engagement programmes to educate participants on various aspects of hygiene, including personal and home hygiene,” he added.

Brownd called on well-wishers to support the event by providing cleaning materials such as brooms, shovels, hoes, wheelbarrows, and other tools.

He acknowledged the collaboration between NDIZOYNET and Blantyre District Council, Youth Office, saying the collaboration has been commendable and source of inspiration to the network’s activities.

Founded in 2015 as a network of youth clubs in Ndirande, NDIZOYNET has consistently been organizing clean up exercises in the area.

NDIZOYNET also works with Concerned Youth Organization (CYO) in a number of youth programmes.

CYO Executive Director, Harvey Chimaliro, told MANA that the organization empowers the youth to participate in community activities.

CYO has supported the exercise at Malabada and Ndirande health facilities with 100 brooms, masks and gloves.

Chimaliro expressed hope that the initiative will motivate young people to take ownership of their surroundings and take lead in ensuring their communities are clean thereby fostering a sense of responsibility.

CYO is implementing a project called, Sustainable Future: Youth Empowering Youth in Climate Resilience and Livelihoods, which engages youths in Ndirande and surrounding areas to promote waste management.

“One of the focus areas of the project is to encourage young people to get involved in waste management, ensuring that their communities are clean and well-maintained,” he said.

Chimaliro called upon the youth in Blantyre district and other stakeholders to support Ndirande youths by participating in the exercise.

Blantyre District Council in collaboration with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) partners also conducted a cleaning exercise on November 1, 2024 at Lunzu in the district to promote hygiene in the district.