Mzuzu E-Hub Launches Children’s Whatsapp ChatBot
BY DRAXON MALOYA
Under its VOICE OUT Project, the Mzuzu E-Hub has on Saturday launched a ChatBot on WhatsApp at Ekwendeni in Mzimba District aimed at according young people an opportunity to connect with duty bearers and access information in the health and education sectors.
Primarily, the three months Voice Out project also aims at strengthening children and youth participation in community structures to fully benefit from social services and contribute fully to community and general socioeconomic development.
In an interview after the launch, Mzuzu E-Hub Executive Director, Wangiwe Joan Kambuzi said this will break barriers to enable youth and children’s participation in community structures which range from cultural values, and lack of information or exposure due to lack of or closed communities for youth and children.
Kambuzi further stated that the application accords young people an opportunity to young people to connect with duty bearers and access information in the health and education sector.
“This project supports the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG4-Education, SDG5-Gender equality, SDG 8- Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 9-Industry, innovation and infrastructure development, SDG 10-reduced inequalities and SDG 17-Partnerships for the goals,” Kambuzi said
In their remarks, Group Village Headman Ngoma for Enukweni Zone and the Ward Councilor for Ekwendeni ward, Morgan Tembo concurred in hailing Mzuzu E-Hub for the complementary efforts towards assisting government in promoting girl-child education which is one of the components in the Voice Out Project.
“This project is greatly contributing to our girl children’s education as highlighted in the Malawi Vision 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Development Goal number 7 calling for equal participation in the socioeconomic development of our communities and the nation as a whole,” GVH Ngoma said.
From Ekwendeni Community Day Secondary school, a form four student, Elisa Ngulube of Unity Voice Out Youth Club said the use of technology in the project is assisting youth breaking some cultural barriers derailing youth advancement and socioeconomic development.
During the official launch of the ChatBot, youths from the project targeted zones accompanied by their ward councilors, Morgan Tembo and Cylus Khowoya were provided with high quality tablets to enable easy communication.
E-Hub is implementing the K14. 9 million Voice Out Pilot Project from April to 30th August 2022 in Mzuzu City, Ekwendeni and Enukweni in Mzimba District in partnership and support from Save the Children.
