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KABUL, Afghanistan – Nearly 800 Afghan youth of Farah and Herat were encouraged to develop youth councils to initiate modern change in their provinces during two shuras held Monday and Tuesday.
The shuras were lead by Deputy Minister Taimoor Eshaqzai , Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs, a sub-office of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture. These shuras are a new opportunity for Afghan youth because they have been restricted from voicing their opinions in public.
“The youth are unjustly deprived and suppressed, especially the women,” said Fassiha, 17, at the Farah shura. “We have no voice.”
The minister’s goal is to change the youths’ role in Afghanistan and was directive in his speeches, telling the youth to develop youth councils at the provincial level down to the villages. The youth councils will have the responsibility of speaking to the government about their problems and taking action in their communities.
He further stated the councils are to fight corruption, campaign against drug abuse, help each other, and find solutions to the problems they are facing. He expounded on these duties by reminding the youth about the practices of Islam that Afghans have not practiced, mainly equality among men and women.
“All youth should realize their duties, not just for the government, but the responsibility to change their lives,” explained Eshaqzai.
The minister informed the youth that they are the only people who could secure the future of Afghanistan. It is estimated that 68 percent of the Afghan population are youths. Youths are defined as Afghans ages 12-25, according to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Eshaqzai also encouraged national unity.
“There should be no more division by tribes,” said Eshaqzai. “We are all human beings; we are all Afghans.”
The process of setting up youth councils is 38 percent finished, with the intent of all provinces being visited by the minister by end of this summer. The minister claims progress is already being made as a result of the councils.
“It is not perfect. We just started, but we will get there,” said Faiza, 17, at the Farah youth assembly. Faiza hopes the youth councils will bring about better access to jobs and training for women and overall improvement in her province.
The youths of Herat and Farah voiced issues to the minister during the shuras. Drug addiction, unemployment, lack of vocational training, and especially education were the top concerns among the youths – concerns shared by governors and youth directors who attended the suras.
The youth councils are good for the Afghan youth. The councils should emphasize the importance of education and access to computers, said Sima, 29, a literature teacher in Herat.
One Farah province youth, Naim, 19, voiced his dream to become a journalist, but there is not a university for him to attend in Farah.
The minister stated he considers it a privilege to be a voice for Afghan youth and cares deeply about their concerns.
“I do not work for the government or a political party,” said Eshaqzai. “I work for the youth.”
The minister’s speech was well received by attendees, and the crowd applauded him at both shuras multiple times. There was a tense moment in Herat, however, when a group of men interrupted the shura to argue with the minister over an unrelated issue.
The Provincial Reconstruction Teams from Farah and Harat were also present at their province’s shuras, showing support for the youth councils. The PRTs have a close working relationship with the provinces, helping in various ways from drug intervention programs to building schools.
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.11.2011 03:26 |
| Story ID: | 65219 |
| Location: | KABUL, AF |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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