Fredrick Moyo
The Scout Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) held their 10th National Scout Youth Forum (NSYF) in Masvingo province at the Civic Centre on May 6 2022.
The NSYF will be followed by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on May 7 at the same venue were the SAZ will be discussing resolutions to the challenges that the youth are facing in the country.
Speaking to TellZim News, National Scout Youth Forum chairperson Isaiah Marikopo said they are in the province for two major reasons that include hosting the NSYF, the AGM where they will be discussing issues affecting the youth and also reviving the scout movement in the country.
“Today we are here holding our National Scout Youth Forum and tomorrow we hosting our first AGM since the pandemic and we will be discussing challenges the youth are facing. Some are taking and abusing drugs and we are also trying to revive the scouts in schools and many places as the pandemic affected us, some dropped out and some were even married, so we are here to revive the scout movement.
“So after this NSYF, we will host an AGM where we will try to find solutions to the challenges that we are facing as youth and find the way forward,” said Marikopo.
Outgoing Secretary for National Youth Forum Advisors Nicole Ngwenya said scouting is an educational tool that supports, empowers and inspires young people to develop skills in decision-making and also encourage those who want to join the movement to come on board.
“In scouting, it is not all about camping and spending time in the bushes, but we also get in touch with reality on the ground. We get involved in issues of policy making, active citizenship and youth participation, involvement and what I love about scouting is that one learns self-discipline and also education outside school walls. It is self-education without a teacher in front of you.
“Scouting movement is one of the largest youth groups in the world. So as per our 2023 target, we are targeting a 100 million youths, so we are trying to get every young person to come and join us, it’s a pity that Covid-19 affected us but everyone is welcome to join us,” said Ngwenya.
A youth forum is a chance for Scout Movement to be engaged with scouting and have their say that allows youth to contribute new ideas to the movement.
