Windhoek: Member of Parliament and former Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Council of Namibia, Sharonice Busch, has urged youth leaders to prioritise the needs of the people they serve over their own. Busch was speaking at a Youth Advisory Panel (YPA) induction workshop organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Namibia in Windhoek on Tuesday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the induction brought together newly appointed youth leaders from across the country for an intensive one-day orientation and capacity-building session. One of the advisory panel’s objectives is to represent the voice of young people, advocate for them, and facilitate their engagement in policy and programme development.
“When you’re a youth leader, it is important to put those that you serve first and to always lead from the back,” said Busch. She emphasised that youth leaders must prioritise those who placed them in positions of leadership, rather than putting themselves first. “We must not think only of ourselves. We must think of those that have fed us, that have entrusted us, and that have identified you as young leaders,” she noted.
Busch also cautioned the young leaders about the potential pitfalls of power. “Sometimes we see that when we get into positions of power, when we are entrusted with responsibilities, we tend to flip the coin and only start doing things for ourselves,” she said. She further commended the UNFPA for bringing the young leaders together.
“I commend UNFPA Namibia for convening this panel and congratulate the new members being invited here today. I’m particularly excited that the UNFPA continues to embody the belief that young people must have a seat at every decision-making table, and they must continue to actively shape the policies of our country,” Busch expressed.
Meanwhile, UNFPA’s Assistant Representative, Loide Amkongo, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to empowering young people. “We are committed to youth employment and to meaningful youth participation,” Amkongo said.