The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says it has trained over 420 youth leaders in Central Province in various sustainable income-generating activities under the Zambia Youth for Conservation, Agriculture and Livelihood Action (ZYCALA) project.
ZYCALA Project Communications Assistant Arnold Chasaya said the youth leaders have been trained in bee-keeping and poultry farming.
“They have also been trained in business modelling, design, construction of simple parent stock and how to grow crops using sustainable organic agriculture techniques and non-chemical inputs,” he said.
Mr Chasaya said out of the 420 beneficiaries, 60 percent are female youth leaders.
“They have also been trained in business modelling, design, construction of simple parent stock and how to grow crops using sustainable organic agriculture techniques and non-chemical inputs,” he said.
Meanwhile, WWF Country Director Nachilala Nkombo said the youth-centred project would greatly help in equipping young people in Central Province with survival skills and opportunities that support conservation.
Ms. Nkombo said one of the most crucial dimensions of the ZYCALA project was that it acknowledged the need for community engagement and empowerment in conservation efforts.
she however noted that unless communities are empowered, conservation efforts would not be sustainable.
“I am so delighted that through the ZYCALA project, more young women in Central Province have been seen taking a leading role in conservation efforts. Through this project, young people in the three districts are contributing to the well-being of their families and the sustainability of the environment,” Ms Nkombo said.
she has since urged the beneficiaries of the project to put what they have learnt into practice and lead sustainable development efforts in their province.
The training which was funded by the Scottish government is targeting to reach 150,000 youths in order to raise awareness on the need for social and natural system management through peer-to-peer learning.