In May of 2013, Restless Development, a youth-led INGO
announced a Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on Post-2015 Development Agenda for youth affiliated with different
organisations. On behalf of Yuwalaya, I got an opportunity to participate in
that ToT, where I not only learnt about the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
and post-2015 agenda but also got an opportunity to meet youth from different
areas having diverse expertise.
It was informed to participants that the organiser will
select the outstanding participants as facilitators to facilitate upcoming
consultations on Post-2015 Development Agenda with adolescents and youths. But,
I was one of the quiet participants of the ToT, performing my best and speaking
less!
During the consultation at one point of the time we all are
divided into groups and asked to run a consultation on Post MDG 2015. With
little hope and confidence in mind I gave my 100 percent in presentation. Few days after the completion of ToT I got a call from
organizer, which was amazingly surprising!!! That as the great moment for me to
know I had been selected for the district level and regional consultations. As
a facilitator I visited districts like Sindhuli and Sarlahi.
I still feel honoured when I met youth and adolescents from
different social, cultural, geographical and psychological backgrounds. Some of
them were school going children while some others were graduates. Some were
from marginalised community and some were disabled; some were optimistic
towards their life and some were confused. Despite these differences, they were
representing the youth of our country and to some extent; it was an eye opener
for me to know this.
During the consultations we came to know kinds of problems they
face in their society, kind of society they want and sorts of implementation strategies
they want from the stakeholders. Good schools, transportation facilities, end
of dowry and early marriage, health and sanitation were very common desires I
observed. As I was from Kathmandu, but still a youth, I found their problems
very different and vague than mine. I felt lucky that I am getting every
facility. Claiming it may sound rude, but it was what I felt.
I participated in three consultations where two were
district-level and one was regional in Biratnagar. Though the places were
different and the participants were from different places, the problems in
general were common. They had complains with government and their local
stakeholders. One thing I noticed during the consultation was every one of them
was blaming the government for every problem and expecting reforms from the
state. No one was seen interested to take initiation to change. I did not like
that complaining trend, through I was helpless to think of what should they
have done instead.
In overall, the consultations provided me an opportunity to
understand more about problems of people and places and their ideas and
suggestions in solving them. I hope that knowledge will help me work for the
people I work with at my organisation.
Rubina, professionally
a mediaperson, is Secretary of Yuwalaya.
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