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Bangwe Youth Centre AYISE’s Bangwe Youth Centre facility was established in 2005 with support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). The youth centre is one of the early initiatives that came to the mind of the founders of AYISE as a mechanism to address many of the problems the youth used to face and still face to this day. It is framed on the adage that an idle mind is the devils workshop. AYISE as an active youth movement thought of establishing the youth centre to created space for young people to be active in activities that enhance their welbeing and at the same time contributes to national development. AYISE believes that while it is practically difficult to create employment for every youth, it is relatively easier to provide space where every young person will find an activity that suits their interests. AYISE further believes that lack of youth centres in an environment where unemployment is high would mean condeming young people to drug and substance abuse, sexual immorality leading to teenage pregnancies and HIV and AIDS, petty theft of items in public facilities and general vandalism. We feel the youth centre also offers space to young people to develop healthy relationships as contrasted to relationships where the meeting places are dark corners, strategic road junctions or thick bushes. In an effort to confront these pressing issues, AYISE designed and constructed the Bangwe Youth Centre which contains a modern resource room capable of hosting up to 60 participants, an ICT Training Centre which offers training in computers an general ICT to the youth and adults who are working but did not have the opportunity to learn computers. In addition, the Centre also boosts a restaurant, summer huts, a pavilion, a library, a grass football pitch, and concrete surface netball, basketball and volleyball courts. The Youth Centre’s broad objectives cover:
The I.C.T Training Centre was established with assistance from the British Council-Connect Youth International. This facility is open primarily to the youth and then all interested individuals across Blantyre. AYISE understands the importance of experience with a computer when applying for jobs and has observed the lack of access to ICT for low income communities in the area. Without intervention from AYISE and the British Council, the vicious cycle would have continued. The ICT Training currently covers:
In the near future AYISE intends to run specialised computer training programmes that can make young people us the skills to make a livelihood. Teller made courses shall iclude 1 Hardware and software amintenance 2 Web desgning 3 Desk top publishing Currently, the course lasts for 4 to 5 weeks with consideration made for lost time through public holidays, power failure and slower response from some trainees. Our I.C.T staff are experts in computer training and offer a professional service. The course uses our projector and hand-outs for class-teacher sessions while ensuring one-on-one tuition through continuous monitoring of progress. The ICT centre has Swivel Chairs and personalised Desk top computer during sessions. No sharing of computers is allowed and this provides young people and other adult trainees with more time to practice what they may have learnt in theory. Training costs 5,000MK only and is payable in advance or on the first day of training. Forms for interested individuals can be found at the Youth Centre in Namatapa (opposite Namatapa Primary School). Payments are done at the Head office commonly known as the AYISE village in Namiyango- Blantyre. For individuals or organisations looking to improve their I.C.T capabilities, AYISE’s Resource Centre is the ideal place. In addition to the other new possible training areas identified and mentioned above, the next phase of the Bridging the Digital Divide Project is to extend training to cover the internet in a more practical way through provision of wireless internet which will be accessed at a heavily subsidised rate. With the internet, AYISE would also like to open a Citizen’s Information Centre which will offer information through the internet at a subsidised cost so that youth and students wanting to access information on the internet can do so without financial worries. Other facilities include our modern conference room, able to host up to 60 individuals. The room has comfortable chairs and folding tables, allowing for room arrangements to be made as specified. The room is perfect for workshops, seminars and meetings since it is a quiet place and well ventilated. Our restaurant aims to cater for individuals taking advantage of the youth centre facility, be it for conferences, training or sports. Meals can be prepared to eat on site or to take away. The pavilions constructed at the centre is a quiet place for relaxing and discussions. They also offer space for enjoying meals in a cool natural environment. From the pavillion, views stretch out beyond Bangwe and B.C.A Hills. YOUTH CENTRE PICTURE GALLERY
The Youth Resource centre Building at the Bangwe Youth Centre has conference, meeting and training room, ICT training room (commonly known as the computer lab) and staff offices. The left wing is the conference room and thre right wing is thew computer lab while tyhe middle has offices for the youth Centre management and lavatories. From the front it looks like there is virtually no room for offices but from rear view one can ably see the space for the staff offices.
This is the inside look of our conference room. The constructition of the youth centre building just as arte the sports courts was made possible with financial contribution from AusAID. This also includes staff furniture as and computers.
This is the inside of the computer lab where ICT training is offered. The computers were donated to AYISE from Computer AID -Uk through Connect Youth International Via the National Youth Council of Malawi. The furniture and purpose made computer desk compartments were funded by the British Council -Connect Youth International.
The initial training of trainers course from where the current ICT trainers were recruited was facvilitated by Mr Barry Daughty from the University of Wales Cardiff and other youth from wales who were carefully selected by the British Council Connect Youth Interantional based on their skills in the field of ICT. Above, the international youth offering the training of Trainers course to the local youth.
The footbal ground- The only in Bangwe with some elements of good grass- the rest are bare football grounds. Effort was made by planting local versions of dupe grass which has the capacity to survive hostile weather conditions.
The basket ball court and the far side is the volley ball court flanked by terraces where spectators sit and watch the activities. The terraces ahve multiple uses including safe space for the youth to hang around and share information.
The rear view of the building with two pavillions. The pavillions offer space for young people to sit, relax and creaste healthy relationships. They also arte used as the eating place for those buying food from our food cafe and tuck shop.
In all there are five pavillions at the youth centre. These are the last three. |
