YEC holds model parliament seminar to champion youth voices in peace and national prosperity

The Youth Empowerment Consortium (YEC) has held a Youth Model Parliament seminar on the theme, “Amplifying Youth Voices: The Quest for Peace & National Prosperity.” The thought-provoking event brought together young people and key figures in the districts and constituencies of Ghana to discuss ways of championing change through service, capacity building, and effective leadership.

The event was held at the Ghana-Indian Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence on November 2, 2024, with influential speakers sharing valuable insights into different aspects of capacity building, youth involvement, and empowerment.

Building Youth-Led NGOs for Funding and Grants

Mr. Peter Bismark Kwofie, Executive Director at the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI), addressed the audience on the topic “How to Build Youth-Led NGOs to Attract Funding and Grants” in conjunction with the strategies that be adopted to attract funding and grants from organisations and individuals in the country and globally. He entreated participants who are yet to start an NGO to look out for problems in their communities and constituencies and think of ways to solve them.

“This is one fast way to improve the living conditions of people in your communities and gain their trust for your subsequent ventures,” he considered.

He stressed that building strong organisational structures and creating innovative projects that align with community needs will attract influential and organisational support in developing communities. He counselled members of the house to keep records of the projects they do for their communities on social media for future reference.

On applying for funding and grants, he educated participants to identify the amount they need, the organisations whose values and interests align with their NGO, and people who can connect them to individuals or organisations who can support them with the grants and funds they need.

“Aside from applications, one easy way to gain funds is to have proof of what you have been able to achieve so far with your NGO. You can also attract sponsors by attending conferences, networking, volunteering, and nurturing your friendships,” he pointed out.

Amplifying Youth Voices: Women’s Role in the Nation’s Quest for Peace and Prosperity

Madam Hannah Mamudu, President of the Influential Women Foundation, an NGO centred on fighting menstrual poverty in deprived communities, highlighted the crucial role women play in peacebuilding and the country’s pursuit of prosperity.

In her session, Madam Mamudu focused on the unique contributions the youths, especially women, bring to leadership and decision-making, especially within youth-led initiatives.

“Women have a forbearing; hence, we need to learn and empower ourselves through seminars and conferences so we can assist the men and train the young ones,” she buttressed.

She informed the youth at the summit to lift each other and learn how to serve their leaders so they can tap into their experience.

She also called on young women to embrace their voices and strive for leadership roles in community and national projects.

“Youthfulness is very useful; how you use it determines how useful you will become. Be mindful of what you consume because you are the product of what you consume,” she directed.

As part of the training process for the youth from the various communities in the country, YEC developed a Youth Model Parliament, which is akin to the parliament we have in Ghana. The Youth Model Parliament has a President, a Vice President, a Chief Justice, a Speaker of Parliament, a Majority and a Minority caucus, which is represented by individuals from the various constituencies in the country to train their minds on parliamentary proceedings and formalities observed in parliament.

This is to prepare the members of the cabinet for parliamentary proceedings and to make it easier when they get into the Parliament of Ghana.

Mr. John Yaw Martin, President of the Youth Empowerment Consortium and Youth Model Parliament, outlined policies for the upcoming year. He shared the cabinet plans to support women-led conferences and initiatives, aligning with the State of the Nation’s address and mission to uplift youth leaders.

Mr. Martin emphasized that empowering young women through women-led conferences not only supports gender equality but also strengthens the nation’s collective vision for peace and development. “This year, next year, there will be women-led conferences, and then, also, there will be women-led community projects.”

“We have established the Presidential Special Initiative Award. This award scheme is designed to recognise the good works of the youth who have engaged in community service.

We believe that acknowledging these efforts is crucial in inspiring others to continue positively in our society,” he shared with the Youth Model Parliamentary members.

Background of the Youth Empowerment Consortium (YEC)

The Youth Empowerment Consortium (YEC) is an organisation that trains young and vibrant youth who aspire to be change-makers in the political sphere of the country. YEC is a development and leadership organisation that is committed to empowering young people, harnessing young talents, mentoring, and grooming the next generation of global leaders with the right mindset to promote youth participation in governance and socioeconomic development.

In an interview with Joseph Boakye Agyemang, Director of Programmes at YEC, he shared that “a lot of youth are enthusiastic about being part of the governance of this country but do not know the ways they can be a part of it. Realising this gap, YEC decided to serve as a platform that trains and nurtures young youth to be at the forefront of governance.” He explained that applications are not open only to people with political affiliations to existing political parties but are open to individuals who want to improve their communities.

He encouraged individuals who wish to join the organisation to send an email to youthempowerementconsortium@gmail.com.