Over 600 Youth in Zanzibar Trained on SDGs

The United Nations in Tanzania continues to raise awareness on the  Global Goals. Recently, with UNICEF's funding, the United Nations in Tanzania trained and held active discussions with over 600 youth to enable them to be conversant with the global development agenda and their own development priorities in the isles. The awareness-raising campaign on the Global Goals seeks to make sure that young people are engaged in its implementation. The outreach in Pemba and Unguja is a continuation of an initiative which was launched in Arusha in 2016 by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez.

Speaking at the Lumumba Secondary School were one of the four pieces of training took place, the RC Office’s Partnership and Communications Associate stated that the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda requires the involvement of everyone. She congratulated the students for their commitment to understanding the Global Goals and assurance of taking part in the implementation.  She also pointed out the importance of youth’s participation in development issues in Tanzania where youth comprise more than 60 per cent of the population.

“You have a very important role and responsibility towards your fellow youth as Youth. The knowledge you have received today will enable you to be good advocates for the SDGs at home, at school and in your communities. In this way, we hope you can take responsibility for the advocacy and implementation of activities in support of the Global Goals. As such responsibility for the Global Goals rests with all of us and especially the youth.” said Ms. Didi while addressing the youth at the event.

One of the participants, Ms. Lailat Mwinshehe from Shamiani Secondary school, expressed her appreciation for the training noting that this is the second time such training has been carried out in Pemba. “I feel educated, informed and enabled to communicate the new Global Goals to my family, my friends, and my peers. This knowledge was not clear to me before because I did not have the opportunity to attend the previous training.  The Global Goals Agenda will end in 2030, and I will be 40 years old. I want to be part and parcel of witnessing the successes in their implementation and this is why I am playing part in raising awareness among other colleagues.” Said Lailat.

Three secondary schools and a group of twenty young reporters participated in the training in Unguja while over 400 secondary school students from Shamiani, Mitiulaya, Maendeleo and Limbani secondary schools were trained in Chakechake, Pemba.