Mtsuli village youths meet to repair the dam wall.

By Dennis Ndlovu

YOUTHS from Ward 7 in Mtsuli village have resolved to meet regularly to work on a leaking dam wall in their community.

The youths have decided to come together after discussions initiated in a #Youth4Integrity WhatsApp group coordinated by MYDI where they have resolved to actively participate in community development projects in their community.

Charity Ndlovu, a youth leader from Mtsuli village highlighted that they took note of the leaking dam in their community and how if ignored for long would result in the loss of the precious resource in the next rainy season.

“We noticed that our dam wall was leaking and during the rainy season this could result in us losing more water or the wall itself hence we resolved to fix that as the youth,” Charity explained.

Agnes Ndlovu, another youth from the same village, said the group embarked on a collaborative effort to repair the dam wall by digging a 1-meter-deep trench and filling it with stones and then left a space to fill it in with concrete.

“We have since resolved to contribute R20 each to buy cement that will be used to make concrete that will fill up the hole to ensure that the seal is strong to stop the water from leaking,” added Agnes.

Maqhawe Ncube said beyond the practical benefits of the project, they have also experienced personal growth as young people.

“This has taught us the power of teamwork, that if we work together, we can achieve a lot and address most of the challenges that we face in our village,” he said.

“Working on such initiatives as youths helps keep the mind busy hence, we will have little to no time to commit crime or do drugs,” said Charity Ndlovu.

The successful dam wall repair is a testament to the potential of youth involvement in community development and it is hoped that this initiative will inspire other young people in the area to act and contribute to the betterment of their communities.

The work done by these youths now has a ripple effect as it has motivated young people in Nhlupho village to take part in the construction of Nhlupho Clinic and the youths of Tshiphisane village to take part in the construction of Mabisi Primary School in Ward 8.