The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport last week joined the United Nations (UN) in celebrating International Youth Day and plans to host a training session teaching youth how to use edutainment to tackle social ills.
In a press release the Government Information Agency (GINA) said observances were hosted on Wednesday under the theme ‘Sustainability, Our Challenge, Our future.’ The day is set aside by the UN to focus on key issues relevant and important to youth; issues which are of concern to their social, cultural, economic and political rights.
According to GINA, the ministry said “Having recognised that youth is an excellent source of energy, creativity and initiative, it becomes imperative for youth to embrace the challenge of sustainability in its fullness as they pave the way forward through the 21st century.” In keeping with this, the ministry hosted a consultation on climate change and which included about 400 youth in the painting of a mural in order to bring about awareness of this and other pressing environmental issues.
The ministry also intends to start training sessions for 45 youth in Region Six and the city, in edutainment – education through entertainment, a strategy devised to incorporate the performing arts to inform the public of contemporary social ills in the society. This project is being funded by UNDP. The ministry said it believes the active participation of young people in youth networks, governance and other decision-making will serve to enhance policy development and implementation.
