‘Better Life Youth Forum’ is one of the advocacy Forums that were formed by the120 rural monitors who were trained by ToroDev in online advocacy, monitoring service delivery and using online social media tools like Ushahidi plat form for online documentation, visualization and mapping. The forum’s theme is“Strengthening accountability and transparency for better service delivery”with youths and women who demand for accountability and better service delivery from their local leaders in Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District.
Members of Better Life Youth Forum launched their forum on 15th September 2014 at the Sub County Head Quarters of Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District and invited different local leaders who were able to give accountability to over 400 local citizens.
Leaders give accountability during the launching
During the launching, Hon. Aston P Kajara, the Minister of State for Privatization encouraged the youths to start up projects for saving. “I encourage youths to start up projects so that they can get money for savings. Youths should engage in activities like piggery, coffee and tea planting. I will therefore support youths in starting up these projects by pledging one million for starting up a piggery project in Butiiti Sub County, and also pledge one million for buying coffee seedlings”.
Other leaders also encouraged youths to be innovative and also exploit the available government youths programs for development. “I encourage youths to be innovative and avoid wasting time in gambling activities and peer groups. Youths should embrace the available programs like the Youths Livelihood Program and find ways of how they can develop from such programs”, said Hon Linda Timbigamba, Woman MP for Kyenjojo District.
The rural monitors also thanked ToroDev for the continued support to the advocacy forums. “I thank ToroDev for the continued support to Better Youths Life Forum and also request for enhancement of our partnership that will help us to improve on the services being delivered by our local leaders”, said Jane Ahaisibwe, the Chairperson of Better Life Youths Forum.
The accountability meetings are supported by NED, SPIDER/Stockholm University and SIDA/CIPESA on a project aimed at using both physical and online platforms like accountability meetings, radio and social media to improve the participation of marginalized population groups of rural youth and women in governance in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda.