For a long time now, Zambia has used Youth Resource Centres (YRCs) as key drivers of developing and empowering communities in rural areas. From Kafue to Mufumbwe, these resource centres have been a multifaceted platform for services that cater to the diverse needs of young people, fostering their growth and contributing significantly to the broader community’s development.

On 21^st May 2024, there was cheerful noise in Chiyota community, situated over 80 kilometres from Lusaka City, after receiving a shipment of ICT (Information Communication Technology) equipment that has transformed the Resource Centre and will empower youths in the community.

The celebrations emanated from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, hand-over of 30 desktops, 30 headsets, 30 monitors, 16 laptops, a projector, webcams and 2 printers donated to Chiyota YRC. This is one of the deliverables of the GRZ-UN Joint Youth Programme under the theme “Unleashing Scalable Solutions for Youth Empowerment in Zambia.”

Chiyota YRC is part of the many government-run YRCs dotted across the country and is the second Centre to be refurbished after Mufumbwe in North-western province, which received a similar donation of equipment under the Programme in December 2023.  The Centre boasts of over 500 students accessing a range of skills training programmes of which ICT skills are part of the training programme although this has been hampered by lack of equipment and internet connectivity. 

Digital inclusion is a key driver of sustainable development, especially for a youthful population as that of countries like Zambia. Consequently, the Joint Programme seeks to, among other things: 

• Create an integrated digital platform to serve as a virtual hub to provide a single-entry, easy access point for productive resources, opportunities, and information for Zambia's youth;

• Equip and refurbish Youth Resource Centres to help make them fit for purpose. This means improving the digital offerings of the youth hubs through the provision of a catalogue of services leveraging both digital capabilities and cost-effective service delivery that are meeting the current youth demands, in line with the recommendations of both the national and provincial consultations conducted around the formulation of the National Youth Policy.

In short, YRCs are critical in driving community development by offering vocational training and technical skills development, which are key for employment and entrepreneurship. Chiyota Youth Resource Centre offers skill-building and practical training in trades, including carpentry, tailoring, financial literacy, electrical and mechanical engineering, and ICT.

During the launch of the Centre, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Honourable Elvis Nkandu gave a detailed description of how the Centre will be beneficial to young people and the community.

He said, “Chiyota Youth Resource Centre will serve as a hub for growth, learning, and development in the community through an increase in access to information on various initiatives being implemented by the state and non-state actors. This initiative will support access to information to programmes like the Farmer Input Support Programme, youth empowerment programmes sitting under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Mines and Minerals Development, and Technology and Science thereby contributing to the development of Rufunsa District and food security.”

He further emphasized the important role that the Centre would play for marginalized populations such as girls and those with disabilities, saying “Centres such as these will not only be instrumental in providing equal access to ICT for young people, regardless of gender and physical abilities, but will also drive more young women and people with disabilities towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, narrowing the digital divide”.

UNDP Resident Representative, Mr James Wakiaga called for young women and men to rise to this opportunity and become part of the change in Chiyota community.

“I call on the young people here to seize this opportunity and make the most of the facilities and equipment at your disposal. Take initiative in using the centre to learn and apply new skills, harness your creativity, seek out new and exciting opportunities, and contribute to the development of your community. The future of Chiyota and its youth is bright” he noted.

Meanwhile, Margaret, a power electrical student remarked that the new Centre was an excellent opportunity for research, knowledge acquisition and sharing as well as keeping up to date with global trends. With a lot of joy, Margaret reaffirmed the relevance of the Centre for communities as far-flung as Chiyota: “the Centre will enable us to have a better learning environment with the necessary tools and materials for up-to-date training. We are excited that this equipment has been connected to the Digital Platform for Youth that is currently being developed to increase youth access to productive resources, information and opportunities being provided by the Centre.” 

By providing such support to the Centre in Chiyota, the Joint Youth Programme aims to enhance the learning environment for young people with the necessary tools and materials for up-to-date vocational training and capacity development for Centre staff in vocational training best practices.