Public urged to value youth volunteer work

FATMA ABDU

The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Prof Elisante Ole Gabriel.

COMMUNITY, government and other sectors have been urged to value the contribution of youth volunteers in the country as way to motivate them to reach their dreams.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Prof Elisante Gabriel, made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the International Volunteer Day.

Speaking during the event, the PS said that the youth volunteers’ contributions in the country was very much acknowledged and appreciated because its impact has continued to be manifested both at national development level as well as their own personal growth and future prospects for stability has also been testified.

“All of us should recognise their contribution in different sectors which will be a catalyst to help them reach their goals in the nation’s development ,” he said, adding that we have an opportunity to encourage them for a better life while also aiming a promoting national values.

Prof Gabriel urged youth not to rely on government support for employment instead they should exploit the opportunity available in their localities by being volunteers on various sectors as the best way of increasing awareness and acquiring knowledge and experiences.

“The youth need to change their mindset that money is everything instead they should think more on being creative and innovative. This will help them to transform challenges facing them into business opportunities through volunteerism,” Prof Gabriel said. He urged them to build a culture of volunteering that would help them in self employment and for better knowledge.

According to Prof Gabriel the government has planned to collaborate with various stakeholders with the aim of looking for several opportunities.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, Ms Awa Dabo, said that all together we have an opportunity to build a bridge between the work of countless volunteers around the world and the dreams that we have for a better world.

Ms Dabo pointed out that UN Volunteers in Tanzania work together with government to formulate strategies that will ensure an enabling environment for the promotion and practice of volunteerism among many sectors of the Tanzanian society.