[IPYG]
[IPYG] IPYG's Friends: Lusaka City Council Junior Council
Introducing an IPYG Affiliate Organization: Lusaka City Council Junior Council
IPYG–Lusaka City Council Co-hosted Zambia Youth Leaders Peace Conference
The Lusaka City Council Junior Council, a youth body under the Lusaka City Council, was established in 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia. It is composed of 38 youth committee members aged 15 to 18, representing the 38 wards of Lusaka City. The Junior Council operates as a youth mock council, encouraging young people to participate more actively in community affairs.
The Junior Council serves as a participatory platform that enables youth to express their views on local community issues and engage directly in civic activities. Its main areas of focus include environmental protection, climate change, public health, community sanitation, and youth rights. Through policy discussions and campaign participation, the council works to reflect youth perspectives in city governance.
IPYG Affiliation Signing
On April 22, 2025, the Lusaka City Council Junior Council signed a partnership agreement with the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). The collaboration began with the “Clean Up, Crime Down” Peace Street Volunteer Activity, launched to help reduce crime through street clean-up efforts inspired by the Broken Windows Theory. Further discussions on sustained cooperation followed at the IPYG Zambia Youth Leaders Peace Conference on May 26.
Volunteer Activity Co-hosted with Lusaka City Council, Street Clean-Up Volunteer Activity around the Northmead Market Area
Mr. Benard Kambole, Youth Committee Member of the Lusaka City Council Junior Council (Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Ward), shared his experience of working with IPYG as follows.
“Working with HWPL Zambia and IPYG has been a truly positive experience. Our ‘Clean Up, Crime Down’ Peace Street Volunteer Activity has produced meaningful results. Through this initiative, I learned about peace, leadership, and influence, as well as how these values can promote harmony within the community. It also helped me better understand how to resolve everyday conflicts and recognize our shared humanity. HWPL is a valued partner, and we will continue to promote peace and hope together.”
Following multiple rounds of discussion and a strengthened partnership, official approval was granted by Mr. Victor Kagoli, Director of the Public Health Department of the Lusaka City Council. As a result, the Lusaka City Council Junior Council became an official partner organization of IPYG. Since then, IPYG and the Junior Council, in cooperation with the Lusaka City Council, have carried out monthly street clean-up and environmental improvement activities involving approximately 50 to 150 youth participants. Through these efforts, young people have strengthened their sense of self-efficacy by directly contributing to positive change in their city, while also developing greater civic responsibility toward their local community.
Mr. Victor Kagoli explained the significance of the partnership with IPYG as follows.
“Governance cannot be achieved by the older generation alone. Youth are key stakeholders in national governance and must learn and grow together with previous generations. Cooperation with IPYG is becoming a vital foundation for young people to develop practical governance capacity.”
He also delivered the following message to youth around the world.
“Young people, do not wait only for decisions made by the older generation. You are already active participants in governance and have a responsibility to help make this world peaceful. No one should be excluded or underestimated. We are one global community united by good intentions. Let us cooperate to build a better world together.”
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to continued collaboration with IPYG, stating, “IPYG is our valued partner. We will continue working together to spread peace and hope.”
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