Youths impressive in Parliament By Timothy Kitundu Young people participating in Parliamentary sessions under the co-ordination of a Youth NGO, Tanzania Youth Aware Trust (TAYOA) have formed a network between rural and urban youths with the aim of developing good leadership and maintaining cultural norms. TAYOA Director, Peter Masika said recently all youths who participated in the project 'Youth in Parliament Session (YPS)' are an example in sensitisation of various youth's activities. "These youths have been very active in emphasising and sharing of views and experiences on how to solve problems of unemployment and poverty among the youths, strive for good governance and gender equity," he stressed. According to Masika, the project has also proved that contrary to what people think about youths, they have proved they are able to contribute towards leadership and economic revolution even before they attain adulthood. However, he said at the beginning of the project, some MPs were a bit worried as they thought the project was aimed at replacing them with young MPs and they were a bit hostile, but when they came to understand the whole concept, they offered them full co-operation. He said, youths expressed surprise at the small number of young MPs in Parliament although they felt a sense of comfort and confidence by MPs attitude of mingling with them and exchanging views and experiences. Youths impressed MPs during their tenure in Parliament with how they learnt bills being tabled, the question and answer session and the handling of the mace by the Speaker of Parliament in maintaining respect in the house. The significant achievement by youths who went to Parliament, however according to him remains undertaking teaching of fellow youths on various discussions for economic recovery and sensitising them to have confidence of becoming national leaders in the near future. Source: The Express, 2004