CHRISMASS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR MESSAGE
“On behalf of the Board and executive team at MYCN I wish all members, staff, partners and friends an enjoyable and safe Christmas and New Year. 2016 has been a positive year for MYCN in so many ways. We achieved what we planned with youth and children participating to the fullest. 2017 will be another exciting year for everyone at MYCN as we are looking forward to expanding our programs. We hope that you, our partners and friends, will continue to support us and make 2017 an even more successful year. Have a great holiday season and enjoy safely!” ~ Baraka Mukama, Chairperson of MYCN Board of Directors
Tangazo la kazi
Kama wewe ni kijana wa kitanzania mwenye umri chini ya miaka 30 na elimu ngazi ya astashahada (Diploma) au shahada (Degree) ya utawala (Human Resource), basi tuma maombi yako kwa Shirika la Mtandao wa Watoto na Vijana Mwanza (Mwanza Youth and Children Network - MYCN) kwa barua pepe ifuatayo; mycnapplication@gmail.com Kama unahitaji ufafanuzi wowote wasiliana nasi kupitia simu namba: 0766 565257. Maombi yote yatumwe kabla ya tarehe: 20/11/2016.
Kila la Kheri! Imetolewa na Shaban R. Maganga Mwenyekiti Mtendaji wa MYCN.
SCHOOL CLUB PROGRAM EXPANSION
We have expanded our School Clubs program to include colleges in Mwanza! Currently we are working with students at the Institute of Rural Development Planning (pictured above) and we are in the process of establishing a club at the College of Business Education. The goal of expanding the program is to provide a platform for college students to come together to plan and implement youth focused activities, build their capacity through various trainings, evaluate youth-related issues, and prepare them to be good leaders and citizens. By engaging in community work while still in school, college students will be better prepared to enter the workforce, including the community development field, after graduation.
DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD 2014
On June 16th 2014 MYCN beneficiaries took part in the Day of the African Child celebrations in Nyamgana and Ilemela Municipals as well as Magu District. Members of the national, regional and ward Junior Councils participated through dancing, MC-ing the events and presenting the children speeches. Mwanza Young Reporters also took part in the day by recording the event so as to report on it during their radio program on Metro FM the following Saturday.
Mwanza Junior Council General Secretary, Rosemary Deus (second from right), presents the children’s speech to stakeholders on behalf of her fellow children during the event at Buhongwa Primary School while Mwanza Young Reporters Paulina Robert, Yusuph Hamis and Godfrey Ndaki (left to right) record.
Gertrude Clement, Mwanza Junior Council Executive Committee Member, delivers the children’s speech at CCM Kirumba to stakeholders on behalf of her fellow children while Mwanza Young Reporters Jackline Amos and George Kusekwa (left to right) record.
MY CITY MY VOICE POST DIALOGUE
As part of the My City My Voice project, on May 31st 2014 a Post Dialogue session was held with participants representing each of the targeted groups of the project (children, youth and girls – both in and out of school). The session gave participants the opportunity to further reflect on the previous activities but primarily it allowed them to prepare for their upcoming interface meetings with duty bearers. Each group was able to select their top priority to address as well as an important duty bearer to meet with to discuss it with. All participants were excited to have the opportunity to plan for the future and are looking forward to their upcoming interface meetings!
The children representatives (left) selected the building of Children Talent Centres as their first priority. They suggested that by using their talents in singing and drama they could educate others about the importance of education and health as well as educate the society about the challenges faced by children in Mwanza. The youth representatives (right) decided on the need for a youth council from ward, district to city level as they believe this will bring power to and unity among youth so that they can engage in matters that affect their wellbeing.
Those representing girls in school (left) selected their main priority as being their engagement in the preparation and implementation of various school programs such as: health programs, school clubs and the setting of the timetable. Representatives of the girls out of school group (right) set their main priority to be the protection of girls living on the street from police officers and citizens who currently use their power to perpetrate various forms of violence against them. The girls said that once their protection is ensured, they can focus on engaging with health and education services.
We ended the Post Dialogue session with drama presentations from each group where they acted out the way they thought their upcoming interface meeting would go with their selected duty bearer.
MY CITY MY VOICE GIRLS DIALOGUE
The Girls Dialogue took place over two days with the participants on the first day coming from schools and the second day girls and young women living on the street and those with limited education who are currently running small businesses. On both days the girls spoke about their current engagement in health and education services and how they would like to be engaged in the future. They also worked together to create tactics for their future engagement.
Some Words from the Girls
“I have understood the problems and challenges facing girls and the reason why girls are not engaged in different issues. Now I am ready to fight for and defend my right of being engaged since I have understood how important it is in bringing development to the community and the nation at large. MYCN’s slogan of HOPE: ACTION: CHANGE has inspired me and I am ready for any opportunity like this.” Zulfa Ismail Mhando, 18 year old student from Pamba Secondary School
“This dialogue has made me to be confident and I will now be participating in meetings and contributing my ideas without fear.” Zainabu Hussein, 17 year old former street girl.
JUNIOR COUNCIL SHARING EVENT
In May 2014 MYCN hosted members of Geita Junior Council during their visit to Mwanza to meet and share with members of Mwanza Junior Council. The children came together to discuss the successes achieved and challenges faced by each of the councils. We hope that this is the beginning of their cooperation and they continue to learn from each other.
Mayaya Hamad, Chairperson of Mwanza Junior Council, explaining the work that the council has been doing recently and what their plans are for the future.
Rosemary Faustini, Chairperson of Geita Junior Council, discussing the activities of their council.
WARD JUNIOR COUNCIL TRAININGS
MYCN recently provided two rounds of training to Junior Councils throughout Mwanza’s Nyamagana District at ward level. Buhongwa, Butimba, Igogo, Igoma, Isamilo, Mahina, Mbugani, Mirongo, Mkolani, Mkuyuni, Nyamgana and Pamba Junior Councils were all reached through the project. The first round of training focused on Child Rights and Responsibilities while the second discussed Child Participation in the Junior Councils, the media and the community as well as work plan creation.
Members of Mahina Junior Council work together to outline their rights during the first round of training.
Members of Mkolani Junior Council review a sample of a workplan so that they can begin designing one of their own for their Junior Council.
And as always, throughout the training there was lots of fun to be had! Members of Mkuyuni Junior Council (left) and Mbugani Junior Council (right) enjoy the energizer break during their training.
MY CITY MY VOICE YOUTH RESEARCHERS TRAINING
At the beginning of May 2014 Mwanza was the training ground for up and coming youth researchers. As part of the My City My Voice project, eight youth researchers were identified and trained on participatory research methods so that they could ask children and youth in Nyamagana District about their current engagement in health and education services and how they would like to engage in the future.
During the training facilitated by TAMASHA, youth researchers learned different research techniques such as: community mapping (left) which shows the location of services and spaces where social development activities take place and how to facilitate an exercise in ranking (right) to show the relationship between spaces where children and youth are present and their gender.
They also had the opportunity to practice their new skills with members of Mwanza Young Reporters at MYCN's office before going out into the field.
After the training and practice the youth researchers went into the field to talk to children and youth. Young women (left) from Buhongwa Ward, who are not in school, place important services found in the Ward on their community map and boys (right) from Igoma Ward, currently in school, participate in a ranking exercise.
The data that the group collected will be used in planning future phases of the My City My Voice project.
MAKING ALL VOICES COUNT GLOBAL INNOVATION COMPETITION IN NAIROBI
With the help of everyone who voted online for our ‘Children Engagement for Government Accountability’ project we were able to make it to the final round of the Making All Voices Count Competition! Our fellow finalists were amazing and we were so happy to be among them in Nairobi
Shaban Ramadhani, MYCN’s Executive Chairperson, delivering his three minute pitch of ‘Children Engagement for Government Accountability’ to the judges, mentors and fellow finalists in Nairobi
Together with fellow finalists at the Making All Voices Count Gala Night where awards were distributed