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A response to Earle Sinvula (Namibian, 18th of Jun The NYC leadership as represented in the Representative Council, Executive Committee and Management have never been vitriolic in its response to any criticism it has faced in the past or at present. In actual fact, the structures within the composition of the NYC make robust dialectical debate both conducive and a regular feature in the various structures of the council. For the benefit of all, allow me to elaborate the structures of the National Youth Council and to reiterate that these structures are free for all youth organisations to join irrespective of political or any other social or religious considerations, provided that such organisations meet some basic requirements. The NYC has at national level affiliate organisation which in principle comprise of youth serving /lead organisations that are present in at least seven regions, the NYC also has regional youth forums, whose leadership and membership are comprised of organisations active in that particular region and whom are elected at a regional conference, this tendency is further replicated at constituency level and where relevant on sub constituency structures. At all stages are leaders elected democratically.

Main Amongst National Youth Councils on the African continent, there are not many that are able to match the NYC (Namibia) compliance with international and continental guidelines on the composition and nature of national youth councils. Further, the NYC constantly is in strife, to improve in this regard and also to surpass its own expectations of itself. The insinuation that NYC is an instrument only for SWAPO Party interest, is false and misleading and in itself partisan. Positions in the above mentioned structures are contested openly and freely by all the member organisation of the NYC. While the NYC shall make no excuses for it historical progressive tendencies, such as its association with the anti imperialist vanguard, the Africanist front and its uncompromising aversion to liberation struggle denialist, it shall guard jealously its non partisan approach to youth development and shall forcefully stand against the insinuation that NYC is an instrument to divide the youth. The Leadership of the NYC reflects religious, political, regional and ethnic diversity of the country. In addition to that, deliberate means have been made in the past and in the NYC Act of 2009, to provide for the inclusion of marginalized, youth, including those of minority ethnicity, youth with disabilities and young woman. Any insinuation to the contrary is either empty vitriol or plainly daft. In regards to its record as an advocate for the downtrodden, poor and marginalised, here again the NYC has been an unceasing campaigner for progress. NYC is a member of the Basic Income Grant Coalition , and has been an active campaigner for youth participation in local, regional and national decision making, in addition to housing support for youth, free universal tertiary education, in this regard we serve on various public instruments such as the National Council of Higher Education, the National Youth Serve Board, The Namibia Student Financial Assistance Scheme , the National Planning Commission and continue to lead interventions in amongst other population policy, health policy and in the education sector amongst many other. In addition to the above, we have supported and worked hand in hand with our government in its efforts to reduce poverty and expand national development; about this we can also not be apologetic. Platform for youth involvement exist and are functioning country wide, despite the insufficient resource allocation to the NYC, it has done its best through technical support, and grants to support youth organisations and regional youth forums. We have also worked very hard to establish national platforms for dialogue and engagement, through the introduction of the national youth festival, and the serialisation of discussion platforms of NBC National Radio. The task for us ahead in view of the pending transformation is for NYC to continue to represent the interest, aspirations of the youth by (1) becoming a repository and agent for youth development research and know how , (2) working to monitor and evaluate public interventions for youth development (3) advising youth development agencies including MYNSSC, The NYS and the whole public sector on how best meet youth expectations and of such expectations (4) working to build the administrative and human resource capacity of youth serving and youth lead organization, (5) further by raising consciousness on pertinent issues of the future and (6) through the provision of small and large grants which youth can initiate their own development in order to meet the objectives of the African Youth Charter and the National Youth Policy, whilst in conclusion (7) the NYC should from time to time pilot youth development projects with a great potential to create positive impact on the lives of youths. Recent assertions made in the media to the contrary, are harmful and make the already difficult task of the leadership even more burdensome and have contributed in recent times to NYC loosing potential funding for youth development interventions, in HIV/AIDS, micro financing funding. Best Regards Mandela Kapere. View all Whats New Items