GIDEON NYENDWA
A NEW School Councils and Junior Councils Advocacy Toolkit for adolescents has been launched in Zambia, aiming to boost youth participation in decision-making processes within schools and local governance structures.
Dr. Aaron Chansa, lead consultant to the development of the toolkit with support from UNICEF and implemented by the Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) said the toolkit provides practical guidance for establishing and running effective school and junior councils.
Dr. Chansa described the toolkit as a game-changer for youth engagement in Zambia.
“This toolkit provides clear and practical tips on how young people can organize and run councils, identify issues affecting them, and take advocacy actions for positive change,” he said.
He called on the Ministry of Education, local government, school managers, and council secretaries to adopt and implement the toolkit nationwide.
The initiative comes amid challenges faced by adolescents in Zambia, including the lack of uniform guidelines and limited capacity-building programs for effective participation in Learners Representative Councils (LRCs).
Although the Education Act of 2011 and Zambia’s decentralisation Policy provide for youth participation, inconsistencies have rendered many councils inactive, highlighting the need for revamping.
So far, over 60 learners from Lusaka and Kafue have been trained in children’s rights advocacy using the toolkit, equipping them with practical skills to drive change in their communities.
The project aligns with Zambia’s international commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Sustainable Development Goal 16, which emphasizes inclusive and participatory decision-making.
Speaking at the launch, Lusaka Junior Mayor Anita Manika said the importance of youth involvement in governance.
“Young people must be part of decision-making processes because they can speak to issues that directly affect them,” she said.
