Phek youths celebrate International Youth Day

Dimapur, Aug. 12 (EMN): Over 100 youths from five communities in Chizami and Razeba range of Phek district converged at the International Youth Day programme in Chizami, on August 12 to “celebrate the potential and energy of youth,” and to engage in meaningful conversation on social issues through music and performance. The event was organised by the North East Network (NEN), updates on Monday stated. The programme was organised to “bring together the youth from various communities to foster peace culture, create space for youth to express themselves freely, to build awareness on local-global issues, and to encourage the youth to participate in community development and peace building initiatives.” Guest speaker of the programme, child development project officer of Chizami Anuo Longo urged the youths to play a more proactive role in taking positive initiatives that will not only benefit the individual but the society too. Noting that “government jobs are saturated,” the officer urged the youths to look at alternative employment avenues such as masonry, carpentry, and to explore opportunities in the eco-tourism industry etc, the updates stated. Longo also stressed on the need to develop their potential and life skills. She urged them to seize every opportunity that opens for them. Wekowe-u Tsuhah of NEN gave the keynote address. She spoke about the history of International Youth Day. “Bringing attention to the local concerns such as environmental degradation, climate change, gender discrimination and violence against women, which are also recognised as global issues, she asserted that only through relearning human values such as dignity, love, empathy, respect for humanity and nature, etc will solve these concerns,” the updates stated. “Citing examples of youth-led movements for peace, climate justice, gender equality, she challenged the participating youth to take the lead in bringing positive change in their communities, and to participate in building a more inclusive and gender equal world.” Also, Wetshete Thopi, assistant professor at Patkai Christian College spoke at the event. He was quoted as having said there was a need to “acquire meaningful education, that is, to learn and imbibe human values such as honesty and integrity which he said was lacking in the Naga society. Thopi challenged the youths to give up old practices that are not relevant today and to be a part of creating a new society that is “gender equal.” Some of the highlights of the event included film screening, talent competitions and distribution of pamphlets carrying gender equality messages. The youths competed in music and a play based on the theme gender equality, the updates stated.