By: Mukuka Jackson Nawa
There’s been an agenda against youths of today by pessimist’s and those who aim at tarnishing the names of youths using umbrella statements like “Youths are too playful”, “Youths are irresponsible”, but above all that, a Zambian based youth-led NGO is breaking barriers and proving all trash talkers wrong.
Voice of the children Organisation- VOC is a youth-led NGO which is based in Ndola city on the Copperbelt province, it was established on 6th October 2019 as a result of the merging of two youth-led NGOs namely Zambia Children’s Advocates for Change-ZCAC and Nawa Foundation Trust-NFT. VOC is a non-profit non-funded NGO and has been operating thanks to resources raised by the members collectively and is led by the Ex. Director Lucky Kalunga.
VOC was established on the grounds of promoting children’s rights and stop child abuse[in conjunction with Sathya Sai clinic in Pamodzi, Ndola]. In the same year the organization was rebranded and introduced programs that focus on curbing immoralities among adolescents and young people. With the introduction of the new projects the organization received a recommendation from the Ministry of General Education and Home Affairs to expand its activities in 10 government schools and 11 different communities within the district.
The organization in the recent past has observed an increase of youth participation in sexual reproductive health issues thus seeing a reduction in teenage pregnancy in communities it’s operating in. The organization also sensitizes the young people on governance issues.
In a bid to reach the masses out there, VOC has managed to negotiate with a local radio station for air time and since 2019, it has been sensitizing the public using radio and other social media platforms as well as physical outreaches. Despite reaching this feat, the NGO lacks basic equipment to make its operations easier and even expand to other districts within the Copperbelt, however, it is on course to lobby for any form of support from various potential sponsors. VOC has been working with other NGOs among them are; PACT ZCCHP, DREAMS project etc to ensure adolescents receive important health services and get essential life skills.
Voice of Children-VOC Zambia with the support of Ministry of General Education has been accorded a rare opportunity to have clubs in the schools.
The team as Voice of Children is comprised of extreme talents ranging from poets, debaters, public speakers, dramatists, writers, actors, singers, advocates, teachers, peer educators etc. Together, they yearn to use the earlier mentioned talents to advocate for goodwill as well as for commercial use to sustain the group to a certain extent.
Lately, VOC members have noticed the increase in mental health illnesses among common citizens, the lack of rehab centers and most importantly the lack of basic knowledge from the general citizenry, it is for this reason that as VOC they have taken a step to champion a robust and aggressive awareness on mental health throughout the Copperbelt province, we intend to officially launch this campaign this month under the theme “Promoting collaboration and service delivery to reduce mental health illnesses among young people”.
The launch isn’t just any common event as it will be Graced by the Copperbelt provincial minister and the copperbelt permanent secretary, other notables to attend are the Mayor and members of Zambia police service.
VOC has already expanded its membership in three other districts including the capital Lusaka, Nchelenge in Luapula province and Luanshya within the copperbelt province.
In today’s world, there ia a lot of negative things that youths are doing and words may not be enough to describe the vision and deeds of these youths from the voice of the children organisation, among the crop of formidable and credible youths of Zambia, VOC membees are without any doubt there.
