The Contribution Of Youth Associations In Improving Livelihood: A Case Of Kividea In Kigoma

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there had been a growing interventional strategy around youthfocused unsustainable livelihood, with focus on improving the role of youth in social, economic and political development, especially in developing countries. Youth organization has become one of those interventional strategies concerned with youth livelihood development. In the midst of lack of detailed information about the contribution of such organization to meet youths‟ needs, the study has examined the contribution of youth organization intended for youths‟ livelihood development. The report is based on a collected field formation sourced from questionnaires filled in by organization members, as well interviews by means of organization representatives (leaders). The findings obtained are here under summarized. Through KIVIDEA programs some youths were transformed from risk behaviors. It has provided financial support to youth projects. Hundred percent of the surveyed respondents have received services from organization and were able to obtain jobs, earn some incomes out of it, although jobs are based on self employment. Jobs also enable some other youths to own assets like radio, bicycles, houses and land for farming. On the contrary, other youths have not achieved much from the organization due to organization‟s financial deficit, poor participation, and lack of capital, low education, insufficient cooperation and support from the government as well the association. The additional strategies suggested to improve youth livelihood more effectively could be; building the association‟s financial capabilities, launch irrigation scheme, an expansion of vocational training to enable vulnerable youths to pursue further education, increase youths‟ access to loans and a creation of more employment opportunities. vi T