Be Innovative and Resilient: Youths urged

By Theseus Shambare

Young people must be innovative and resilient as the SADC region seeks to tackle disaster risks exacerbated by climate change. These sentiments were shared by participants at the recently held second Zimbabwe Youth Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Harare. The symposium, which followed the successful inaugural National Youth Symposium in November 2024, aimed to inspire the replication of youth-led disaster risk reduction (DRR) structures regionally. Its central theme, “Innovative and Inclusive Solutions for Youth-Led Disaster Risk Reduction in Southern Africa”, underscored the pivotal role young people play in building community resilience. AAZ country director Joy Mabenge represented by AAZ Programmes Lead, Dr Selina Pasirayi, stressed the immense potential within Africa’s youth.

 "Africa’s demographic reality, with over 60 percent of its population under 25, is not a challenge, but was a greatest strength and an unprecedented opportunity for youth to lead in designing and implementing DRR solutions," he said.

 A key session, he said, included a disaster simulation that provided “valuable insights into preparedness and response strategies that need to be considered when responding to disasters”. The exercise also helped reveal gaps in emergency response plans and highlighted the need to improve coordination and enhance collaboration among different stakeholders. National coordinator for Youth desk on DRR, Darlington Mupfupi, noted persistent challenges such as lack of knowledge, lack of capacity and resources at district levels and no access to DRR-related information.