"I'm committed to helping girls make sure their voices are heard''

28 years old Sylvie Ngoungoung Djobreya, hails from Bongor, a town located 350 km south of Chadian capital N'Djamena. In addition to her day job as a customs declarant, Sylvie is strongly involved in youth activities within her community. She actively promotes the values of peace and peaceful coexistence by taking part in local initiatives for conflict prevention and resolution. 

It was in this capacity that she took part in the inaugural Youth forum on participation in decision-making mechanisms from September 11 to 13, 2023. The event was organized by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Leisure, and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as part of the project "Strengthening intergenerational and inter-party relations for civic and political participation by young people in a secure and peaceful environment," supported by UNICEF and UNFPA, with funding from the Peacebuilding Fund.   

Over the course of three days, 250 girls and boys from the cities involved in the programme, namely Sarh, Bongor, Mongo, and N'Djamena, came together, met specialists, learned, and engaged in discussions on a wide range of topics. These included youth and citizenship, youth participation and gender, good governance and local development, as well as progress in implementing the recommendations regarding young people from the National Inclusive and Sovereign Dialogue 2022 (NISD).  

Sylvie emerged from the meeting filled with enthusiasm.

Before this forum, I wasn't aware that the participation of young people in public life was a right.

She appreciates the chance she and her peers have been given to voice their concerns about the challenges that hinder their full participation in public life. Most importantly, she believes the forum enabled them to lay the groundwork for reflection by formulating solutions and recommendations for public authorities to enhance the implementation of this fundamental right. 

For many young people like Sylvie, the forum was a great source of information and learning. "It was thanks to this forum I’ve learned that the NISD recommended that the required age to be a candidate in presidential, legislative, and local elections is 35, 25, and 21 respectively." she says. 

Sylvie audaciously recognizes that socio-cultural obstacles, particularly impacting girls, should no longer hinder the expression of young people. " I am particularly impressed by the gender balance that was maintained throughout this forum, and especially by the high-quality participation of the girls. I am firmly convinced that it is the responsibility of girls to demonstrate that they are just as capable as boys, all while respecting our customs and traditions " she adds. 

 
During the event, there was also a valuable moment of intergenerational dialogue between young people and Mr. Adoum Saleh Nguerebaye, a sixty-year-old member of the Lamy-Fortains association (Fort-Lamy was the former name of N'Djamena). Adoum Saleh shared memories of a time when friendship transcended ethnic, political, and religious considerations, as well as gender-based discrimination. His testimony also inspired Sylvie, who acknowledges that in addition to a growing sense of discord in her community, there is also stigma and discrimination, particularly affecting women and girls. However, Sylvie now feels well-prepared to fight these prejudices. "With the insights I’ve gained about gender and civic engagement, I feel more motivated to promote girls' rights and their participation in my city," she says, with a determined voice.