By Allan Kai
Youth in the Bangladesh slum in Jomvu sub-county, Mombasa, organized a football tournament called "Youth Against Drugs and Substance Abuse" today at the community social and sports ground.
The event, dubbed "Lenga Drugs," was organized by youth undergoing a journalism and community peacebuilding training program run by Search For Common Ground called Youth Talk.
Attendees at the function included Mikindani OCS Madina Abdhalla, area chief Sudi Hamisi, Rukia Chimera (youth officer from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports for Jomvu Sub-county), and SFCG County Director Judy Kimamo.
In addition to the football tournament, the audience enjoyed a beauty pageant and an art exhibition where young girls and boys showcased their talents.
A youngster dribbles the ball at the Lenga Drugs tournament held in Bangladesh. Photo: Machampali
The area residents welcomed the initiative, with area chief Sudi Hamisi expressing appreciation for it and calling for more interactions to help fight the drug and substance abuse issue in the area.
"Search for Common Ground has helped us a lot by facilitating this dialogue with our youth. With previous experiences with the organization, such as the 2017 post-election skirmishes that affected Bangladesh, we worked closely with them to help calm the youth and restore order. Therefore, I am excited for this initiative as well, and I hope it will bear fruit in the long run as fewer youth engage in drugs and substance abuse," said Hamisi.
OCS Madina called the initiative a step in the right direction as a program seeking to tackle the root of the problem. According to Madina, drug abuse leads youth into conflict with the law, something her office is actively working to apprehend. She further highlighted the police service's commitment to progressive policing and welcomed such interactions to help achieve their goals for safer communities.
OCS Madina, cheered on By Ms. Judy Kimamo, County Director SFCG, attempts a penalty kick. Photo: Machampali
"As the police, we are very much involved in the fight against drugs, especially when it is affecting our youth. We are, therefore at the forefront in enforcing the law when it comes to matters related to drug and substance abuse because we realize that drug abuse always brings youth into continuous conflict with the law," said Madina.
SFCG programs manager Wahida Mohammed was thrilled with the youth's preparations and mobilization. The youth organized the event and arranged for stakeholders and community members to attend and help bring solutions to a problem directly affecting their community.
"This program is here to empower and amplify the voices of the youth in Mombasa. They have been involved with these community activities among other initiatives where they identified the issue of drug abuse as a menace in their society, which prompted them to spearhead this initiative by inviting all the stakeholders from the police, the chief's office, NACADA among others, to advise them on what they can do to help reduce the issue of drugs and substance abuse," said Wahida.
The event included a discussion session in which the young aspiring journalists asked the attendees questions on the causes, effects, and solutions related to drugs and substance abuse.
Bangladesh community members pay attention to the tournament. Photo: Machampali
Mombasa County Government, represented by Ms. Rukia Chimera, challenged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them by the government, such as the Uwezo Fund and Youth Fund, among other initiatives, to help them with skills and job opportunities and thereby become financially and economically stable.
"We have a lot of programs at the ministry that help the youth to not be idle, thereby preventing them from being involved in drugs and substance abuse. In these programs, we link the youth with rehabilitation centers and connect them to vocational training centers where they are equipped to become self-employed and financially stable," said Ms. Chimera.
The event is the third of its kind, following three other events organized by youth in Mwakirunge, Kisauni sub-county, and Kadzandani Nyali sub-county. A fourth community engagement activity will happen tomorrow in Moroto Slums in Tudor, Mvita sub-county.
