A youth-focused organization, Kaa Kijanja Foundation, in collaboration with partners advocating against gender-based violence, has engaged young artists in Mbeya Region in using art as a tool to promote self-awareness and positive behavior among their peers.
Speaking during a two-day training workshop that brought together 20 young people involved in music, drama, painting, and dance, the foundation’s Director, Godrich Mgonja, said the initiative aimed at equipping participants with skills to design creative content that educates and inspires their communities.
“Our organization focuses on art, creativity, and technology as means to address issues affecting young people. This particular training carried the theme ‘Art for Youth Development’.
We believe that after this workshop, participants will be able to raise awareness on mental health, gender-based violence, and reproductive health through their artistic expressions,” said Mgonja.
He added that the participants demonstrated various artistic talents including songwriting, painting, acting, and dancing all centered around delivering messages of resilience, discipline, and life skills.
Closing the training, Veronica Ponela, Head of the Gender and Children’s Desk in Mbeya Region, said lack of self-awareness among young people continues to contribute to moral decay and criminal behavior, including sexual offences.
She urged the artists to use their creativity as a platform to influence change and promote moral values among youth, many of whom are losing focus on their goals.
“Lack of self-awareness is one of the major causes of moral erosion. We have seen cases involving young motorcycle and tricycle drivers luring schoolgirls into relationships, which leads to serious social consequences. Artists can play a vital role in changing this narrative,” she said.
Ponela commended the initiative, saying it reflects the importance of using art as a means of communication and social transformation.
She encouraged the youth to remain role models in their communities by using their talents to inspire positive change.