Lack of sensitisation hindering youths from access funds

———–The Eastern Province Youth Development Coordinator has acknowledged that lack of sensitisation in some districts have made it difficult for some youths to access the Youth Empowerment Fund(YEF) in the province.

David Musonda says plans are however underway by the province to intensify sensitisations on the programme so that a lot of youths are made to understand the procedure and benefit of the fund.

Mr. Musonda told ZANIS in an interview in Chipata today that so far youths in Chipata and Lundazi have been effectively sensitized on how to go about accessing the money.

He explained that the big challenge is because the office does not have presence in some districts hence making it difficult to carry out educational programmes on the fund.

He said currently his office is depending on the District Commissioners (DCs) offices to educate and encourage the youths on how to access the funds.

Mr. Musonda said all offices for DCs have been given operational manuals for the Youth Development Fund and application forms which stipulate clearly how one can access the funds.

He further noted that this type of sensitisation has not been very effective as youths lack personal contact with the coordinators.

He added that his office has already written to the Provincial Permanent Secretary to embark on a community based sensitisation where youths will be accorded an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarifications on what they do not understand concerning the fund.

Yesterday during the youth day celebrations in Petauke, youths expressed concern that many youths have failed to access the youth fund citing lack of adequate information on the programme.