Bruce appears on ZNBC

On the 15th of August, 2009 The SweZam Youth Organizer was invited as a guest speaker to be interviewed and to appear on a live youth programme called; “Youth Zone (Y Zone)” .

TV programme with a big audience

Youth Zone programme is a youth targeted programme this is aired live on National television every Saturday at 12:00hrs. The program has over three million youth viewers across Zambia. Young people including children from the ages of 10 to 30 years tune in to the programme. Parents and Guardians most of them tend to watch the programme.

The programme has a studio audience of about 40 youths. From either high schools or youth organizations.

This Programme handles youth related issues in a holistic approach, this being through;

• Music
• Dances
• Field interviews
• Studio interviews
• Drama and Poems

The Youth Organizer talked on the subject of Alcohol

The Youth Organizer was called by the producers of the programme to go and appear as a guest and be interviewed regarding this topic; “alcohol a major contributor to high increase of Sexual immorality amongst the young people.”

It was a 10 minutes interview and the youth organizer was given an outline of how the interview would be conduced.

The outline was in the following manner:

• Personal introductions and organization/ Project being represented
• Where it’s located
• Activities and target group
• Youth and Alcohol

The SweZam Youth organizer explained the SweZam project

He talked about how the SweZam Project was initiated by the Swedes who once lived and worked in Zambia and when they went back to Sweden wanted to still have a connection with Zambia and support Zambia in various forms. He explained where the project is located and that it has a Youth Rights Information Centre at Mindolo Ecumenical foundation.

He explained the areas of interest for the project and these being Human Rights, Gender and HIV/AIDS. On the target group he explained that the primary target group are the in school youths from high schools with Kitwe.

The TV program where SweZam appeared has over 3 million viewers.

Living a responsible life

The interviewer then asked The Youth organizer to share more light on how the project is involved in Educating youths to lead responsible lives and avoid venturing negative vices such as alcohol.

The Youth organizer explained that the SweZam Youth Project believes in empowering youths to express themselves and make informed decisions and this it does through; Training Youth club members as peer educators who later on can conduct outreaches targeting their fellow youths. This he explained that youths don’t want to be bossed around and lectured.

They want a scenario where they talk openly over issues affecting their well being so the SweZam project does that and further holds Dialogue meetings bringing parents and guardians on board to discuss the youth related matters.

The SweZam youth project is about empowering youths!

The Youth Organizer challenged the youth to take life serious

In conclusion, the youth Organizer challenged the youth to take life serious and education as priority for in school youth alcohol and education are not the best combination as the outcome might lead to irresponsible decisions of having unprotected sex. He encouraged young people to visit the YRIC and see what it does practically.

Text: Bruce Mubanga
Extract from the Quarterly report no 3:  July-Sept 2009.

Sacred Heart school is a private school located in the heart of Kitwe town centre. A private School owned by the catholic. Due to the previous inter-schools debate competitions under the organization of the SWEZAM project, the school got interested in the activities and Programmes the SweZam project undertakes. 

The School pupils and their teacher had visited the YRIC

and held discussions regarding the operations of the project, activities and Programmes. And the possibilities of establishing a club at their school.

On the 24th of July, 2009, the SWEZAM project was invited to conduct an outreach at the school with the purpose of establishing the club. The meeting was moderated by Godfrey Chimbini (Senior Youth club member).

The following activities were carried out during the meeting:

1. Introduction of the project activities ( past and current) – Rhoda (YC 2)  and Mbaita (YC 3)

2. History of the club-George (YC1)  and Malone (YC 3) 

3. Benefits of being a member – Jeff(YC 1) 

4. Elections – Don (YC 1) 

5. The SWEZAM budget – Bruce (Youth Organizer) 

Having explained the activities, history and benefits,

Don moderated the election session and the following names were voted by the Sacred Heart school pupils to occupy the posts as indicated.

• Philip Mundemba – president
• Annie Mukwemba – Vice president
• Grace Busaka – secretary
•                  – Vice secretary
•                  – Committee member

It was thereafter that the youth organizer was invited

to give a word of encouragement to the elected leaders and explain to the school club members how the SWEZAM budget is divided.

In his explanation, he made it clear that the club being established after the 2009 budget had already been made this meant the school will not get any financial support from the project but other support will be given. But because of the interest they had portrayed the need to establish a club couldn’t be ignored.

He encouraged the general members to be committed

and take keen interest to learn more about the three thematic areas (Gender, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS), he explained that the project could not hesitate as interest shown was a self go ahead.

Thus the outreach was successful. He also said that although the budget for this year has already been allocated to the activities made, the leadership of the school club would not be sidelined.

It will be trained in the Capacity Building and Peer education trainings (Workshops) as this would help create checks and balances and stand as a guide in the way to lead the club. He further explained that they would be considered in the 2010-2012 budget and they will begin to share the same benefits as other school clubs.

Text: Bruce Mubanga
Extract from the Quarterly report no 3:  July-Sept 2009.

The Capacity building workshop was held from 12 – 14 August, 2009 for all the SWEZAM youth club leaders from the high schools.  The workshop was planned to bring together 24 youth clubs.

19 new youth club leaders holding various portfolios from the high schools came. And five people from Youth club 1, Youth Club 2 and Youth Club 3.  The objective of the workshop was to equip the leaders with skills to help them coordinate, manage, and run the SWEZAM youth clubs effectively and efficiently.  

Official opening of the workshop    

The workshop was officially opened by the MEF director, Reverend Reuben Daka. In his opening remarks the director encouraged the youth leaders to engage in full participation and ensure that they get the knowledge from the facilitators.

Introduction to leadership and qualities of a good/bad leader

The facilitator introduced the workshop participants to leadership with an objective of looking at the various world leaders. In this topic participants were asked to at least describe or mention one of the world leaders who inspirers them and why.

All the participants with the facilitators help came up with the following names;    

1. Martin Luther king – because of confidence, honest and many more virtues 
2. Nelson Mandela- because he brought unity, fought for apartheid and not power hungry
3. Parents – good lecture, not self- centred, family first, good listeners 
4. Levy Mwanawasa -worked to stop corruption in Zambia
5. Kenneth Kaunda – worked for the Zambian  independence             

And an interesting answer came when one of the participants mentioned Bruce as a role model or an inspiration because of his smartness, interactive and being a good speaker.

Learning about leadership as ”creating a vision to others”  

After the introduction to leadership, the facilitator came in with yet another topic: ”Exploring leadership”. In exploring, he defined  leadership as; “Creating a vision to which others can aspire and engaging them to work toward this vision. The lifting of peoples visions to a higher sight, rising of their performance to a higher standard, building on their personality beyond its limitation.”  

He further talked about some qualities of leadership these being;  

• Understanding
• Compassion
• Communication 
• Equality
• Fairness
• Show creativity
• Resourcefulness and attention giver.

The workshop participants after looking at Leadership had an opportunity to look at facilitation skills. A topic which is key to their being members and time again and SWEZAM youth club members they will be called to do presentations.

Text: Bruce Mubanga
Extract from the Quarterly report no 3:  July-Sept 2009.