Associations in East African: Stop giving youth’ associations money; they’re getting spoiled
Stop giving youths’ associations money they’re getting spoiled. (The case of youths’ associations in East Africa)
By Peter Madol, Nairobi, Kenya
Thursday, September 05, 2019 (PW) — Association by dictionary definition is a formal organization of people or groups of people. Forming youths’ associations play a key role in youth development, it brings unity among youth whether in diaspora or at home through social programs such as cultural events, youth meetings, youth music and drama. Another aspect, it is where youth converge to bring ideas that can shape their lives. Finally, it is a platform to practice leadership skills at infantry level to catapult one for greater success in the future.
Associations should be guided by the aforementioned principles and practices but in reality check, with these youth associations, they are defined by leadership wrangles, poor accountability, propaganda, etc. As Hon. Michael Makuei puts it when he was asked that old folks should give youth of South Sudan a chance. His response was, “what do they know? Unless they learn from us in order to get a clue about how to run the government”.
He was right to some extent. Indeed, youths are wallowing in the practice of leadership at these small organizations in a manner that is unscrupulous and deplorable. At the same time, they claim themselves future leaders of South Sudan. Let me be pessimistic a little here to say if this is a glimpse of what the future of South Sudan looks like, then the future of South Sudan is doomed judging from current youth rating and their leadership debacle.
The youth adopt the same tricks our politicians used to sneak into public offices with the same goal only to eat not to deliver. The association’s leadership don’t pitch their ideas to the youths to convince them in such a way that can change their minds to elect them. It is merely on ways and means to outfox your opponents in the competition. Once you rally your tribesmen, clansmen, friends plus little investment to bribe your way in, and play cheap propaganda tactics between governments and rebels, you get high chances of winning.
Worst above all, the outcome of elections are always contested whether there is fair and just elections or not. No one accepts the outcome of election except the Victor as a result fighting ensues. It’s quite controversial. But looking at it in a broader sense, it is a clear symptom of the youth’s unwillingness to perform the basic functions of leadership.
When talking about accountability in these associations, government accountability is better, they records something just for the records. In our case, there is nothing like financial records to ascertain money inflows and outflows, all the records are kept in the minds. The few who have access to the money especially leader and his working mates select one of the hotel in the city and divide the money without question. It is the reason most youth have stopped contributing because contributing means money is going straight into leaders’ pockets.
As far as I can tell, the money is the root cause of disputes in some of the associations, let me make it clear by posing obvious questions. Holding other factors constant—Why are some of the associations in chaos?—If association is not moneygrubbing entity. Why are youths so big-headed in these associations? To the point fighting erupts. Too, they cannot be convinced to compromise their positions. If it is not for money motives—why are some so possessed by the holy spirit of associations and sacrifice concentrating on studies. I stand to be corrected, chiefly, the association is no longer what it used to be but it is just a channel being used solely to acquire money.
The solution is simple; elders, prominent figures and the President should stop giving youths’ associations money until they behave themselves in a rightful way; in a similar vein, some of us did stop contributing to these shambolic associations. I prefer money for scholarship, it is well used.
I am not against the idea of giving money to youths for their associations’ betterment but it is not bearing any fruit rather it is creating disunity, fighting in these associations. In this way, at least they will try to install virtue of moral discipline in their associations.
The writer is a concerned youth of South Sudan and can be reached via his email: PeterMadol <petermadol3@gmail.com>
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